Originally the California Notary Association, it was established in 1957 by Raymond C. Rothman to support California Notaries Public with educational resources and tools to better perform their roles in society.

With this expansion came new services including seminars, the telephone hotline and the National Notary Association annual conference.

More than 40 states have adhered their laws to parts of the Model Notary Act.

The association is sometimes listed as a source of information by state agencies responsible for notaries.

[4][5][6][7] An expert with the association was quoted in a newspaper after a notary was arrested for election fraud by improperly notarizing signatures.