{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-486.645","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.645","heading":"Limitation on notarial acts, principal requirements — disqualification of notary, when — nonnotarial fee permitted, when.","body":"1. A notary shall perform a notarial act only if the principal:\n(1) Is in the presence of the notary at the time of notarization;\n(2) Is personally known to the notary or identified by the notary through satisfactory evidence;\n(3) Appears to understand the nature of the transaction requiring a notarial act;\n(4) Appears to be acting of his or her own free will;\n(5) Signs using letters or characters of a language that is understood by the notary; and\n(6) Communicates directly with the notary in a language both understand.\n2. A notary may certify the affixation of a signature by mark by a principal on a document presented for notarization if:\n(1) The mark is affixed in the presence of the notary and two witnesses disinterested in the document;\n(2) Both witnesses sign their own names beside the mark;\n(3) The notary writes below the mark: \"Mark affixed by (name of signer by mark) in the presence of (names and addresses of two witnesses) and the undersigned notary pursuant to section 486.645, RSMo\"; and\n(4) The notary notarizes the signature by mark through an acknowledgment, jurat, or signature witnessing.\n3. A notary shall be disqualified from performing a notarial act if the notary:\n(1) Is a party to or named in the document that is to be notarized;\n(2) Will receive as a direct or indirect result any commission, fee, advantage, right, title, interest, cash, property, or other consideration exceeding in value the fees specified in section 486.685; or\n(3) Is a spouse, domestic partner, ancestor, descendant, or sibling of the principal, including in-law, step, and half relatives.\n4. Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of this section to the contrary, a notary may collect a nonnotarial fee for services as a signing agent if payment of such fee is not contingent upon the signing, initialing, or notarization of any document.","path":["Title XXXII - COURTS","Chapter 486 - Commissioners of Deeds and Notaries Public"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=486.645","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:28Z","sha256":"6fad9ba94da73a03baaeaff3a89b369ddcb9459834e7b6368867fd7e941fd494","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-486.640","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-486.650"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}