How To Register As A Notary Public

While procedures differ from state to state, the general steps to become a Notary are:

Make sure y'all meet all of your state'due south qualifications.
Consummate and submit an awarding.
Pay the state'south filing fee.
Get training from an approved educational activity vendor (if applicable).
Laissez passer a state-administered test (if applicable).
Complete fingerprinting and background check (if applicable).
Receive your committee certificate from the land.
Get your surety bond (if applicable).
File your commission paperwork (and bond) with your Notary regulating official.
Buy your Notary supplies.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Select a state to view the stride-past-pace instructions to begin your Notary commission.

Notary Requirements | Notary Training | Taking the Notary Examination | Notary Bonds and Insurance | Your Notary Commission

Why Become a Notary?

The overwhelming majority of the 4.4 million Notaries in America become Notaries as role of their job duties or as a value-added skill on their resume. Many others choose to become a Notary so they can take their own mobile Notary or Notary Signing Agent business. These individuals are independent contractors who earn coin by handling mortgage signings, notarizing trust documents and performing many other tasks.

Aside from the additional income opportunities available, the function of the Notary Public has a long history and brings with it both credibility to the individual Notary and service to i's country or U.S. territory. A Notary does not serve their employer; their service is to the state or territory that issues their committee.

If you're interested in becoming a Notary Public, this practical guide answers many frequently asked questions. This is a full general guide considering each state has its own procedures for becoming a Notary Public. We provide some state-specific information for the questions in this general guide. If you want to skip straight to your state'due south process and requirements, please select your state from the menu above. Is in that location a question nosotros didn't respond? Please allow us know!

View the steps to become a Notary Public as an infographic, or download the file if you'd like to print information technology out.

Become a Notary Infographic

Notary Requirements:

Who can exist a Notary Public?

The exact qualifications for who can get a Notary differs from state to country. In general, Notary applicants must exist xviii years erstwhile and a legal resident of the state with no criminal record. Some states crave yous Notary applicants to read and write English language. Some states likewise allow residents of neighboring states to become Notaries.

How much does it price to become a Notary?

This varies widely, from less than $100 in some states to several hundred in others depending on the state's requirements. The price of becoming a Notary varies based on the awarding filing fee and the cost of any Notary grooming, exams, background screenings, required Notary supplies, and the cost of your bond (if applicative).

Practise I need a groundwork bank check to get a Notary?

In a few states, yeah, a background check is a requirement to go a Notary. Some states where a background cheque is non required may choose to run ane if you land on the application that you accept been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in the past.

Notaries who cull to get Notary Signing Agents will need a separate groundwork screening to run across industry standards.

What Notary supplies are required in my state?

More often than not, Notaries need three Notary-specific supplies: certificates, a seal for stamping certificates, and a periodical for keeping a record of your notarizations. While non required in a bulk of the states, every Notary should keep a Notary journal for the protection it provides both the Notary and the public.

Certificates are the virtually challenging type of "supply" considering there are different types of notarizations, each requiring a unlike document. Most state Notary-regulating sites provide basic certificates, but these can frequently leave something to be desired when trying to brand a professional impression at a signing. For this reason, some suppliers make certificates available online, so yous tin download the right certificate as needed rather than keeping a stock of paper certificates.

Continue in heed, just because a specific tool is not required by law in your state, doesn't mean you can't utilize it! In that location are plenty of Notary supplies available to help you perform your duties and protect yourself.

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Notary Training:

Does my state crave Notary training?

States that require Notary grooming are: California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Due north Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Delaware requires training and standing didactics for electronic Notaries.

All required Notary training must be canonical by the state, then – as long as it is an approved grade – the basics required by the state will be covered in the training.

While fewer than a dozen states crave Notary applicants to undergo whatever training or education, many others back up the case for voluntary educational courses.

Where can I get Notary grooming if my state doesn't crave it?

The commencement place to bank check for training would exist with Notary regulating agency in your state — usually the Secretary of State'due south part. Local community colleges in some states also offer Notary education. In that location are a number of organizations and vendors, such every bit the National Notary Association, that provide teaching for Notaries too. Some vendors may include applied data that will help Notaries acquire how to perform their official duties.

Notary courses can exist taken in a classroom or online. The NNA provides alive seminars in California and has online training for the residual of the U.S.

How long volition information technology have to complete each course?

Required training courses typically run from 3 to 6 hours. Any optional training you may pursue may fall outside of these guidelines.

How much does Notary training toll?

There is no official standard considering Notary training costs differ past provider. Generally, online training courses toll less than $100, and live seminars range from $100 to $200.

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Taking the Notary Exam:

Do I demand to take a Notary exam?

In well-nigh states, no. States that crave Notary applicants to pass a test are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Utah.

Wyoming encourages applicants to take an at-home examination, but it's not required.

How long will the Notary exam accept to complete?

Notary exams last roughly an 60 minutes. They may include fingerprinting for submission with your land Notary awarding at the completion of the examination.

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Notary Bonds and Insurance:

Volition I need a Notary bond in my state?

In most states, aye. Xxx states and the Commune of Columbia crave Notaries to have a surety bond, merely the amounts vary widely by state. A typical amount ranges from $v,000 to $10,000, although it can be as depression equally $500 or as high every bit $25,000.

A surety bond protects consumers. If yous make a mistake that amercement someone, the bail is intended to recoup the injured person up to the amount of the bond. You then would exist required to repay the bond company.

Is Notary Errors and Omissions Insurance Required?

No, a liability insurance policy is not required, because your country does not write Notary laws to protect Notaries – it writes them to protect the public. That's why many states require bonds. You should consider ownership a Notary errors and omissions insurance policy because information technology protects you against claims relating to any errors you make during a notarization.

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Your Notary Committee:

Who regulates Notaries?

Notaries are commissioned and regulated at the country level. In many states, this is handled through the Secretary of State'due south Office. Notaries in some states are deputed by their county clerk or other governing body.

How long does it have to become a Notary?

If your country requires preparation, an exam, or other requirements, the process can have 7 – 9 weeks. It may take more fourth dimension if the state is processing a lot of renewal applications too.

If your state'due south requirements are minimal, the procedure to go a Notary can accept up to four weeks.

Can anyone assist me use for my Notary commission?

Yes. In almost states, in that location are organizations available to help you through the process. It'south helpful to go through a vendor or clan because of the various steps you must consummate. Florida, Illinois, and Texas crave you use specific vendors and will non have applications directly from applicants.

Where will I be able to notarize?

Most states authorize you to notarize documents throughout the entire state. A few states have unique rules regarding jurisdiction; for case, limiting where yous can notarize inside the state, or allowing you to perform notarizations for your land's citizens exterior of its borders.

Who can I notarize for?

In virtually every state, you should notarize for anyone who comes to y'all with a legitimate, legal request for a notarization and presents acceptable identification. Some states have provisions assuasive employers to limit staff Notaries to notarizing business-related documents during business hours.

How long is a Notary term?

A typical term is 4 years, but information technology'due south different from one state to the next. Some states fix the term for five years and others are 10 years.

Why is the Notary process different in every state?

Notaries are commissioned and governed by individual states. Because state Notary laws are all different, the requirements tin vary quite a bit. For example, many California Notary laws accept been put in place every bit a result of lawsuits and impairment to the public.

How tin can I go a remote online Notary?

The process of getting a remote online Notary commission or authorization varies among u.s.a. that let their Notaries to perform the deed. Information technology's of import to notation that not every state allows Notaries to perform remote online notarizations.

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