How to Become a Notary in Georgia (2026 Guide)

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Key Takeaways

New for 2025: Georgia HB1292 now requires all notary applicants to complete a training course and maintain a journal
No exam, no bond, no insurance required
Apply through your county’s Clerk of Superior Court
Application fee: $40-$55 (varies by county) | Commission term: 4 years
You must be 18+, a GA resident, and able to read/write English

Georgia made significant changes to its notary laws with House Bill 1292, effective January 1, 2025. Training courses and journals are now mandatory. Here’s the current process.

Requirements

To become a notary public in Georgia, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Be a resident of Georgia
Be able to read and write English
Be a citizen of the US or lawfully present in the US
Have no felony convictions (unless rights restored)

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Complete the Required Training Course

Effective January 1, 2025, all Georgia notary applicants (new and renewing) must complete an educational training course approved by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA). The GSCCCA offers a free online course. This is a new requirement under HB1292.

Step 2: Submit Your Application to the Clerk of Superior Court

Unlike most states, Georgia notary applications go through your county’s Clerk of Superior Court, not the Secretary of State. Contact your county clerk for the application form. Bring your training completion certificate and pay the filing fee ($40-$55, varies by county).

Step 3: Receive Your Commission and Buy Supplies

The clerk will process your application and issue your notary commission. Purchase your notary stamp (required) and a notary journal (now required under HB1292). Stamps cost $15-$25, journals cost $10-$50.

What Changed with HB1292 (January 2025)

Georgia House Bill 1292 introduced several important changes effective January 1, 2025:

Mandatory training: All new and renewing notary applicants must complete an approved training course
Mandatory journal: All notaries must maintain a journal recording their notarial acts
ID clarification: Government-issued ID is sufficient to verify a signer’s identity

Journal Requirements (New)

Under HB1292, all Georgia notaries must now keep a journal of notarial acts. This is a significant change from the prior recommendation-only approach. The journal should include the date, type of notarial act, document description, signer information, and the type of identification presented.

Costs to Get Commissioned

Item	Cost
Training course (GSCCCA online)	Free
Application fee (varies by county)	$40-$55
Notary stamp	$15-$25
Notary journal	$10-$50
Total	$65-$130

Bond and Insurance Requirements

No. Georgia does not require a surety bond or errors and omissions insurance. E&O insurance is still recommended to protect you if a notarial mistake leads to a claim.

Renewal

Georgia notary commissions last 4 years. Renew through your county Clerk of Superior Court. You must complete the training course again, but there’s no exam. Apply before your commission expires to avoid a gap.

Becoming a Signing Agent in Georgia

Georgia is an attorney state for real estate closings, meaning an attorney must be involved in the closing process. However, many Georgia notaries build signing agent businesses handling out-of-state loan closings or working with title companies who need notaries for document execution.

See our guide to becoming a signing agent for training recommendations.

Fee Schedule

Georgia sets a maximum fee of $5 per notarial act. This applies to acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and other notarizations. You may charge less or notarize for free. If you charge fees, they must be clearly communicated to the signer in advance.

Notarizing for Family Members

Georgia law does not explicitly prohibit notarizing for family members, but the conflict-of-interest rule applies: you cannot notarize a document in which you have a direct financial or beneficial interest. You should avoid notarizing for your spouse when the document involves shared financial interests. When in doubt, refer family members to another notary.

Penalties for Notary Misconduct in Georgia

Notarizing without authority: misdemeanor offense
Fraud or forgery: felony charges
Commission revocation, the Clerk of Superior Court can revoke your commission
Civil liability. You can be held personally liable for damages caused by improper notarizations

Employer Obligations

Your commission is personal and cannot be controlled by your employer
If you leave your job, your stamp goes with you
Your employer cannot require you to skip proper procedures or notarize improperly
The employer may not restrict your notary services to company business only

How Georgia Compares to Neighboring States

Requirement	Georgia	Florida	Alabama	South Carolina	Tennessee
Bond	None	$7,500	$50,000	None	$10,000
Exam	No	No	No	No	No
Training	Yes (HB1292)	No	Yes	No	No
Journal	Required	Recommended	Required	Recommended	Recommended
Term	4 years	4 years	4 years	10 years	4 years
Max Fee	$5	$10	$10	Varies	None

Georgia recently added mandatory training and journal requirements (HB1292, effective 2025). Alabama’s $50,000 bond is dramatically higher than Georgia’s no-bond requirement. Florida charges the highest fees ($10) and uniquely allows notaries to perform weddings. South Carolina offers the longest commission at 10 years with minimal requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the training course mandatory?

Yes, since January 1, 2025. Both new and renewing notaries must complete the GSCCAA-approved training course. It’s free online.

Is there a notary exam in Georgia?

No. Georgia does not require a notary exam, only the training course.

Do I need a journal in Georgia?

Yes, since January 1, 2025. HB1292 requires all Georgia notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts.

How do I apply to become a Georgia notary?

Apply through your county’s Clerk of Superior Court, not the Secretary of State. Bring your training certificate and pay the filing fee.

How long does a Georgia notary commission last?

4 years. Renew through your county Clerk of Superior Court with a new training course completion.