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,…
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…
Key Takeaways $10,000 surety bond required No exam or training course required Application fee: $25 | Commission term: 4 years Must be 18+, a MO resident, and a registered voter RON available since 2021 Missouri requires a $10,000 surety bond but no exam or training course. Notaries must be registered voters. The process runs through…
Key Takeaways Training course and exam required (effective October 2021) Application fee: $9 | 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 (updated January 2024) Maryland requires a…
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…
Notaries public witness signatures, administer oaths, and handle sensitive documents. If you make a mistake during a notarization and someone suffers a financial loss, you can be sued. Errors and omissions insurance (E&O) covers your legal costs and damages. Here is what you need to know. Understanding Notary E&O Insurance E&O insurance covers you if…
Notaries get asked this a lot: “Can you notarize this for me? I’m family.” The short answer is. It depends on your state and your relationship to the document. Some states flat-out ban it. Others allow it but warn against it. And in every state, notarizing a document where you stand to benefit financially is…
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 to Get…
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…
Remote online notarization has transformed the notary industry over the past few years, and the momentum is not slowing down. What started as an emergency measure during the pandemic has become a permanent fixture in how legal documents get signed and notarized. If you are a notary public, or thinking about becoming one, adding remote…
Key Takeaways New for 2026: Texas SB693 requires all notary applicants (new and renewing) to complete an online education course through the Secretary of State before applying You must be a Texas resident, at least 18 years old, with no felony or moral turpitude convictions File a $10,000 surety bond and pay a $21 filing…
Key Takeaways $10,000 surety bond required Journal required for all notarial acts No exam for traditional notaries Application fee: $12-$17 (varies by county) | Commission term: 4 years New for 2026: Online notaries must complete a state-approved course and pass an exam (SB1051) Must be 18+, a TN resident, and have no felony convictions Tennessee…
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