08/27/2026
Important information for Notaries:
(Borrowed shamelessly from Notary Academy''s own Kim Sennett)
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR NOTARY SIGNING AGENTS: SPW BACKGROUND SCREENING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN UPDATED FOR 2026
There has been a lot of conversation circulating about “new background checks” being required for Notary Signing Agents, so I took the time to review the newly published 2026 Signing Professionals Workgroup (SPW) Background Screening Standards.
Here is what Notaries actually need to know.
First, this is not an entirely new type of background check.
The SPW standard continues to call for an annual background screening for signing professionals. The screening continues to review criminal records, identity and address history, motor vehicle records, federal records, s*x offender databases, and certain government watch and sanctions lists.
The standard generally uses a 10-year criminal-record search, although reporting periods may be limited by individual state law.
🚨 The biggest change is the SCORING.
Under the SPW system, offenses are assigned points based upon the offense. An accumulation of 25 points results in disqualification.
Several offenses that previously carried fewer than 25 points for misdemeanor-level conduct are now listed at 25 points, meaning a single qualifying offense can result in disqualification under the current scoring standard.
Some significant changes include:
🔹 Assault
Previously, a misdemeanor could carry 15 points. The updated standard lists assault at 25 points.
🔹 Battery
Previously, misdemeanor battery could carry 15 points. It is now listed at 25 points.
🔹 Harassment/Stalking
Previously, the misdemeanor level could carry 15 points. The updated standard lists it at 25 points.
🔹 Indecent Exposure/Lewd Conduct
Previously, misdemeanor-level conduct could carry 20 points. The updated standard lists this category at 25 points.
🔹 Issuing a Bad Check
Previously, misdemeanor-level conduct could carry 15 points. It is now listed at 25 points.
🔹 Tax Evasion
Previously, misdemeanor-level tax evasion could carry 15 points. The updated standard lists tax evasion at 25 points.
🔹 Violation of Notary Duties
This is especially important for our profession. Previously, a misdemeanor-level violation could carry 15 points. The updated standard lists Violation of Notary Duties at 25 points.
There are additional revisions as well.
The updated standard now includes a category involving certain animal-related nuisance or dangerous-animal violations, carrying 5 points.
The motor vehicle section has also been broadened to include other forms of motor vehicle fraudulent activity, in addition to false or invalid inspection stickers, registrations, or license plates.
The current SPW standard assigns point values across 104 separate offenses, ranging from lower-point violations to offenses carrying the full 25-point disqualification level.
What has NOT changed?
A 25-point cumulative score remains the disqualification threshold.
Certain database matches continue to result in automatic disqualification, including specified s*x offender and terrorism/watch-list searches.
Annual screening also remains part of the SPW standard.
And this is VERY important:
I have not seen evidence that every title company in the country is suddenly requiring every Notary to purchase a second background check immediately.
Individual lenders, title companies, signing services, and vendor-management companies may establish their own hiring requirements, so always verify the requirements of the company you are working with.
What we can confirm is that SPW has published an updated 2026 Background Screening Standard, and some of the scoring criteria are more stringent than the previous published standard.
That distinction matters.
Our industry changes constantly, and professional Notaries should be paying attention to changes that can directly affect their eligibility to perform mortgage and real estate signing work.
📚 Education before speculation. Facts before Facebook rumors.
I’ll continue reviewing industry updates and sharing them as they become available so our Notary community can make informed professional decisions.
Source: Signing Professionals Workgroup, 2026 Notary Signing Agent Background Screening Standards. See less
