Washington Notary Oath of Office — Form NP-659-009 and the Swearing-In Process

Why the Oath Comes Before the Application

Washington requires every notary applicant to complete an oath of office before submitting their commission application to the Department of Licensing. This sequence trips up applicants who assume they can handle the oath later — you cannot. For an online application, the notarized oath is one of the required uploads to the SAW portal, alongside your signed surety bond; the application is completed in the portal.

The oath form is NP-659-009, downloadable from the DOL website. Print it, bring it to a currently commissioned Washington notary public, and have them administer the oath. Do not sign the form until you are in front of the certifying notary.

Finding a Notary to Administer Your Oath

You need a currently commissioned Washington notary to witness your oath and sign the jurat certificate on the form. Common places to find one:

• Banks and credit unions — most branch locations have a notary on staff
• UPS Store and shipping centers — many offer notary services for a small fee
• Your workplace — if a colleague already holds a commission
• County clerk offices — some provide notary services

The certifying notary will confirm your identity using an acceptable government-issued photo ID, administer the verbal oath, watch you sign the form, then complete the jurat section with their own signature and stamp impression.

Expect to pay the certifying notary up to $15 — the standard per-act maximum fee in Washington. Some locations (particularly banks where you hold an account) may waive the fee.

The Name-Matching Rule

Here is where the rejection trap sits. You must sign the oath form using the exact name you plan to use on your commission. This name must match across three documents:

1. The oath of office form
2. Your application
3. Your surety bond

If there is any discrepancy — a middle initial on one but a full middle name on another, a maiden name versus a married name — the DOL may hold the application for 30 calendar days so you can cure the defect. If it is not cured within that period, the application is canceled and fees are forfeited.

Choose your commission name before you do anything else. Washington requires your commissioned name to include your surname and at least the initials of your first and middle names. Once you settle on the exact name format, use it identically on every document.

Completing the Form

Form NP-659-009 has several sections. The applicant fills in their personal information and leaves the signature block blank until the certifying notary is present. The process goes:

1. Present your government-issued ID to the certifying notary
2. The notary verifies your identity against the ID
3. The notary administers the verbal oath: "Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully perform the duties of the office of notary public?"
4. You respond verbally ("I do" or equivalent)
5. You sign the form using your exact proposed commission name
6. The certifying notary completes the jurat certificate, signs it, and applies their stamp

Keep the completed, notarized form — you will upload a clear digital scan to the SAW portal (for online applications) or mail the original (for paper applications).

Oath for Renewals

Renewal applicants must complete a new oath of office with each renewal cycle. The process is identical: print a fresh NP-659-009, find a commissioned notary, go through the swearing-in, and upload the notarized form with your renewal application.

The renewal window opens 120 days before your commission expiration date. Get the oath done early in that window to avoid last-minute scheduling problems.

The Washington Notary Commission guide walks through the complete application sequence, including the exact order of operations for the oath, bond, and SAW portal submission that avoids the name-mismatch rejection.

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