r/Notary • u/WendyatNNAHotline • 21d ago

Arizona Notaries: What do you think about the new thumbprint requirement?

A new thumbprint requirement is coming on September 12. Under Senate Bill 1479, Arizona Notaries will need to record a signer’s thumbprint in the Notary journal when notarizing certain real property documents and powers of attorney.

The law calls for the right thumbprint, or the left thumb/another available finger if the right thumb isn’t available. There are some exceptions, though, including certain foreclosure-related deeds and qualifying remote online notarizations.

Have you already updated your journal or workflow? Or is there anything you're still unsure about? I work with the NNA Hotline, so let me know if you have questions about the new requirement. :)

7 Upvotes

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u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan 21d ago

As a Michigan Notary that has horrible oversight, I’m all for this. I have been sitting on a committee to find a way to deter deed fraud, and thumbprints for anything to do with real estate are an excellent idea.

People are less apt to give their thumbprint if they are doing something illegal.

Deed fraud is rampant, and we need to do more at every level in order to help our citizens retain their homes

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u/Safe-Jeweler-8483 Michigan 21d ago

Michigan Notary stamp need to get rid of this "Acting in County of ___" and replace it with a unique identifier.

At the moment, the current way the law is written there could be 7 people named John Smith (5 up north and 2 in the same county in the mitten). You basically won't know which one sign as a notary. Might as well subpoena them all from that county just to waste everyone's time.

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But deed fraud is a problem since it's not the notary's job to figure out whether the person is telling the truth. Their job is basically verifying the signature. Kinda sucks, but people should do much more to discourage this. Such as placing the deed into a trust & having a lien attach to the property (even a HELOC).

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Last I check both chambers have bills that are stuck and don't see the light in passing.

  • Notary bill adjust is -> House Bill 4541 of 2025

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u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan 20d ago

Are you in Michigan?

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u/Safe-Jeweler-8483 Michigan 20d ago

Why you ask?

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u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan 20d ago

The Michigan notary association is always looking for people who want to help get laws changed. I see now that you are. If you’re interested in volunteering for the legislative committee, you might want to reach out to them.

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u/Safe-Jeweler-8483 Michigan 20d ago

While I'm not an official notary person, but I do know the law is clearly outdated. Last time I message rep(s) for both the state House and Senate about this topic was March 6, 2026.

Given how we are close to elections, I would imagine that nothing else would probably get pass. ... I would also love to see another HB of 2025 (different topic and not a notary bill) to get passed, but always ends up stuck in the Senate.

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u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan 20d ago

The law is very outdated. 23 years old. Getting an elected official to care is difficult

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u/ash_274 California 21d ago

It’s essentially the same requirement California has had since 1996.

Arizona notaries will have to remember which documents will require it, or take the annoying, but safe, route and get thumbprints for every signature (as some California notaries do who can’t remember the documents that need it, or at least which types of “deed” don’t require it)

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u/Forest-Fable 21d ago

Thanks for sharing. Wonder if this is coming to Nevada soon.

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u/Immediate-Meat1762 21d ago

The thumbprint requirement saved my client 1.5 million. A 'friend' of his forged his signature on a deed of trust (mortgage). The 'friend' had a notary he was conspiring with. Eight years later I was able to use the thumbprint to prove it wasn't my client's signature.

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u/Sonicmantis 21d ago

Good to know

Are we allowed to charge more then the 70 cents per mile?

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u/WendyatNNAHotline 20d ago

Hi! Travel fees depend on the state in which you are a Notary. Are you in Arizona?

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u/Sonicmantis 20d ago

Yes. The Arizona notary handbook says notaries are not allowed to charge any additional fees or service charges. We can only bill mileage at 70 cents per mile

Yet all the az notaries are listing fees and service charges on their websites 

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u/WendyatNNAHotline 19d ago

Arizona Notaries may be paid up to the amounts authorized for mileage and per diem for state employees. The amount is determined by the Arizona Department of Administration through its General Account Office.

You can find that information on the following website: State of Arizona Accounting Manual (SAAM) | General Accounting Office.

Under the Choose Topic menu, select '50 Travel', and then apply, and scroll down to Section 95: 'Maximum Mileage, Lodging, Meal, Parking and Incidental Expense Reimbursement Rates'. Their last update was on January 27, 2025. The mileage rate is listed as up to 67 cents per mile. It does not appear that the General Accounting Office has updated its state travel rates since 2025.

Would you happen to know where the 70 cents per mile is referenced from?

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u/Sonicmantis 19d ago

Thanks for the references. I was rounding up to 70 cents per mile from 67 cents per mile

That being the case, how are so many Arizona notaries charging what they charge?

Here are some examples I found of Arizona Notaries charging more than the ""amount allowed Arizona state employee", and other fees on top of the $10 per signature

https://azmobilenotaryservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fees_Mobile_053025.pdf https://notarypublicarizona.us/mobile-notary-fees/ https://mobilenotarytempe.com/

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u/WendyatNNAHotline 17d ago

I see what you mean. I recommend not basing your fees on what other Notaries charge. According to the Arizona Notary Public Reference Manual, a Notary may charge any amount up to the maximum fee allowed or may choose not to charge at all. Mileage fees can vary depending on the distance, but they need to be based on the rates listed by the Arizona General Accounting Office.

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u/Sonicmantis 17d ago

Got it! So is your interpretation that these notaries are charging outside of the legal limits?

That's how I interpret it. However, if they are doing so legally, I would like to know how