Notarizing a power of attorney comes down to one question: whose signature are you certifying? If the principal is signing the POA itself, you notarize the principal. If an attorney-in-fact is using an existing POA to sign some other document, you notarize the agent, in the signature format the title company or closing agent specifies….
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 Becoming a West Virginia notary takes three steps…
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, and certain documents, real estate deeds chief among them, cannot be recorded without…
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. 2 class=”wp-block-heading”>Meet State of Kentucky Notary…
Key Takeaways No exam or training required $10,000 surety bond required (raised from $1,000 by SB 1028, effective January 2026) Application fee: $50 (raised from $25 by SB 1028, effective January 2026) | Commission term: 4 years Notary stamp required Maximum fee: $5 per notarial act, $25 for RON Background check required for new and…
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,…
Key Takeaways File a $25,000 surety bond (the amount the Department of State’s bonding-requirement page specifies; it was $10,000 under early RULONA). Pennsylvania’s notary law has been RULONA since 2017 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…
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…
Key Takeaways $10,000 surety bond required, qualified in person at your county clerk within 60 days or the commission is cancelled State training course and exam required: attest to reading the handbook or prescribed training, and score 80% or better on the state exam Application fee: $25 | Commission term: 4 years Must be 18+,…
Key Takeaways Training course and exam required (effective October 2021) Application fee: $25 (raised from $9 in January 2024) | Commission term: 4 years Must be 18+, a MD resident (or work in MD), and have no felony convictions Commissioned by the Governor of Maryland No surety bond required Maximum fee: $8 per notarial act…
Becoming a notary public usually involves submitting a notary application through your state’s Secretary of State notary office, but some states do it differently. Sometimes it’s the governor who appoints notaries and sometimes it’s done by the attorney general. The process can vary depending on state statutory laws. The National Notary Association maintains current information…
Notary errors and omissions insurance (E&O) is voluntary in every state, costs roughly $50 to $100 a year for $100,000 of coverage from notary-specialty insurers, and pays your legal defense and settlements if a claimant says you made a notarial mistake. It is the only coverage that protects you rather than the public, which is…
Notaries get asked this a lot: “Can you notarize this for me? I’m family.” The short answer: it depends on your state and on your stake in the document. Florida, Massachusetts, and Michigan ban notarizing for close relatives outright. Most states impose no flat family ban at all; their rule targets your interest in the…
A mobile notary public is a commissioned notary who travels to clients instead of requiring them to come to an office. Mobile notaries handle the same notarial acts as any other notary — acknowledgements, jurats, oaths — but they deliver the service at the client’s home, office, hospital, or any other location. What You Need…
Key Takeaways Exam and 3-hour training course required: must retake both on every renewal $10,000 surety bond required (premium costs $40-$50) Application fee: $35 | Training course: $45 | Commission term: 4 years Processing time: 2-3 weeks Notary stamp and journal both required Maximum fee: $15 per acknowledgment/jurat, $7.50 per oath Must be 18+, a…
Key Takeaways No exam, no training course, no surety bond required Commission fee: $60 | Commission term: 7 years Must be 18+, a MA resident, and have no felony convictions One of the longest commission terms in the country Paper application only, mailed to the State House Massachusetts has one of the longest commission terms…
Key Takeaways Updated January 2024: Illinois now requires a 3-hour education course and exam (85% to pass) for all new and renewing notaries You must be 18+, live in Illinois or a border state for 30+ days, and be a US citizen or permanent resident $5,000 surety bond required ($25,000 additional for electronic/RON notaries) Application…
Key Takeaways New exam requirement: Since July 1, 2025, all new and renewing AZ notaries must pass a state exam $5,000 surety bond required No training course required (but recommended) Application fee: $43 | Commission term: 4 years Must be 18+, an AZ resident, and have no felony convictions RON (remote online notarization) available Arizona…
You become a remote online notary in four steps: hold a traditional notary commission, get your state’s online-notary authorization, buy a digital certificate, and register with an approved platform. Roughly 43 states allow it, startup costs run a few hundred dollars, and because the notarization is governed by your commissioning state, signers can be almost…
Key Takeaways New for 2026 applications: SB693 requires an education course of up to two hours through the Secretary of State before appointment, plus continuing education at renewal You must be a Texas resident, at least 18 years old, with no felony or moral turpitude convictions Pay the $21 filing fee and post a $10,000…
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