Key Takeaways New for February 2026: Surety bond increased from $10,000 to $50,000 State exam required (open-book, administered by Secretary of State) Lifetime commission (does not expire) Journal (notarial register) required Must be 18+, a LA resident, and registered to vote in your parish Training course strongly recommended Louisiana is unique in several ways: notaries…
Key Takeaways $10,000 surety bond required Journal required for all notarial acts No exam or training course required Application fee: $30 | Commission term: 4 years Must be 18+, a WA resident, and able to read/write English RON (remote online notarization) available since 2020 Washington requires a $10,000 surety bond and a journal for all…
Key Takeaways No exam or training required $5,000 surety bond required Application fee: $25 | Commission term: 4 years Notary stamp required Maximum fee: $5 per notarial act, RON not permitted Must be 18+, a MS resident, with no felony convictions No exam or training required. Here’s how the process works. Requirements Be at least…
Yes. You can hold notary commissions in more than one state at the same time. There is no federal law preventing it. Each commission is separate, and you must meet the requirements of each state independently. But there are important restrictions to understand, and the process isn’t as simple as filling out one form. Here’s…
Key Takeaways No exam, no training, and no bond required Application fee: $25 + $10 county filing | Commission term: 10 years Must be a registered South Carolina voter Maximum fee: $5 per notarization Notary stamp recommended but not required Processing time: 2-12 weeks No RON: remote online notarization not currently allowed South Carolina has…
Key Takeaways Major update May 2026: Indiana now requires a $25,000 surety bond, education course, and exam Background check required (Indiana State Police, within 6 months of application) Must be 18+, an IN resident or working in IN, and have no felony convictions Exam: 30 questions, 80% passing score required Commission term: 8 years (one…
Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance protects notary signing agents from financial loss if a client claims you made a mistake during a notarization. Almost every signing service and title company requires you to carry E&O coverage before they will assign you work. Here is what you need to know about what it covers, how much…
Key Takeaways No exam or training required No surety bond required Application fee: $120 | Commission term: 5 years Notary stamp required Maximum fee: $5 per notarial act Must be 18+, a CT resident or working in CT No exam or training required. Here’s how the process works. Requirements Be at least 18 years old…
Minnesota does not require a bond, exam, or training course to become a notary. The commission costs $120 (one of the highest state fees) and lasts 5 years. Remote online notarization is not yet available (SF3602 is pending). Here is how to apply. Eligibility Requirements To become a notary in Minnesota, you must: Application Process…
Notaries play an important role in legal and financial transactions, from real estate closings to power of attorney documents. But the income potential varies wildly depending on what type of notary work you do and where you live. Some notaries earn a few hundred dollars a month as a side gig, while others build six-figure…
Key Takeaways New York requires notaries to be 18+, a US citizen or legal permanent resident, and a resident or worker in NY state You must pass a 40-question written exam (70% to pass): attorneys and court clerks are exempt No training course required, but recommended No surety bond required Application fee: $60 | Exam…
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document where one person (the principal) authorizes another person (the attorney-in-fact or agent) to act on their behalf. Notarizing a POA is similar to notarizing other documents, but there are specific things to watch for, especially when the attorney-in-fact is signing on behalf of the principal. What…
Key Takeaways No surety bond required (eliminated in 2018 by HB 4207) No exam or training course required Application fee: $52 | Commission term: 5 years Must be 18+, a WV resident, and able to read/write English RON available since June 2021 Journal recommended but not required West Virginia eliminated its $1,000 surety bond requirement…
You need a notary when a document requires a neutral third party to verify that the signer is who they claim to be and that they signed willingly. Notarization adds a layer of trust that courts, lenders, and government agencies rely on. Here are the most common situations where you will need one. Real Estate…
Kentucky is one of the easiest states to become a notary. No exam, no training course, just a $1,000 surety bond, and no set fee cap. The process runs through the Secretary of State and your county clerk, and you can typically complete it within 30 days of approval. With all the responsibility and honor…
Key Takeaways No exam or training required $10,000 surety bond required (raised from $1,000 by SB 1028, effective January 2026) Application fee: $25 | Commission term: 4 years Notary stamp required Maximum fee: $5 per notarial act, $25 for RON Background check required for new and renewing applicants (SB 1028) Must be 18+, an OK…
Oregon requires notary training, a state exam, and a $40 application fee, but no bond. The commission lasts 4 years and the maximum fee is $10 per notarial act. Here is the process. Application Process To become an Oregon notary public, you must meet the following requirements: Disqualifying Factors To be an Oregon notary public,…
A signing service sits between title companies, lenders, and notary signing agents. When a closing needs to happen, the title company calls the signing service, and the signing service dispatches a notary from its network. The signing service handles scheduling, document delivery, and payment collection. In exchange, it takes a cut of the fee, typically…
Key Takeaways New for March 2026: Pennsylvania’s RULONA regulations increased the surety bond from $10,000 to $25,000 You must be 18+, a US citizen or permanent resident, and a PA resident or worker Complete a 3-hour approved education course within 6 months before applying Pass the Pearson VUE notary exam ($65 per attempt): first-time applicants…
The process of notarization requires that the document signer is properly identified. Knowing which forms of identification are accepted and the requirements to do so can help make this process simpler, smoother, and more stress-free. As a notary public, it’s important to be knowledgeable about what different types of identification you can accept in order…
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