2019 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 14 - Records, Rules, Legal Notices, Oaths
Article 12A - Notary Public
Section 14-12A-3 - Qualifications.
A notary public shall:
A. be a resident of New Mexico;
B. be at least eighteen years of age;
C. be able to read and write the English language;
D. not have pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or been convicted of a felony; and
E. not have had a notary public commission revoked during the past five years.
History: Laws 2003, ch. 286, § 3.
ANNOTATIONSEffective dates. — Laws 2003, ch. 286, § 28 Laws 2003, ch. 286, § 3 effective July 1, 2003.
Cross references. — For right of women to hold office of notary public, see N.M. Const., art. XX, § 11.
No citizenship requirement. — There is no longer an express citizenship requirement in the New Mexico notary statutes, and any attempt to impose a citizenship requirement would be unconstitutional. 1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-16.
Residency. — There is no requirement that a person be a New Mexico resident for any particular time before qualifying as a notary public. 1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-16.
Residency criteria. — For the purpose of the notary statutes, residency constitutes the fact of an abode in New Mexico coupled with the intent of remaining in the state for at least an indefinite period of time. 1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-16.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 66 C.J.S. Notaries § 2.
