If you are a legal resident of the state of Georgia, you may apply to become a notary public in your county of residence. This gives you the authority to notarize documents in any county within Georgia.
However, if you are a legal resident of a state bordering on the State of Georgia, and are regularly employed or carry on a business or profession in Georgia, you may only apply in the county of employment.
A notary, also called a notary public, is a person authorized to witness the signing of legal documents, usually concerned with deeds, estates, licenses, power of attorney, affidavits, and trusts. As a publicly commissioned official, a notary is tasked with verifying the authenticity of documents, and they serve as impartial witnesses when signing legal documents.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to learn how to become a notary public in Georgia:
To become a Georgia notary, a notary applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a citizen or a legal resident of the United States.
- Be a legal resident in the county in which he or she is applying.
- Have an operating telephone number to include on your notary application.
- Be able to read and write in English.
If you meet the above qualifications you can apply to become a Georgia notary by:
- Completing an online notary application.
- Printing out the PDF file of your notary application.
- Signing Section 3 A of the notary application in the presence of a notary public.
- Having the notary complete Section 3 B of the notary application.
- Having the two endorsers you provided on the notary application sign Section 4 A and B.
- Taking your completed notary application and government or state-issued identification to your County Clerk of Superior Court Office.
- Paying the $37.00-$42.00 fee to the county clerk and taking your oath of office.
Application process for new appointments or reappointments to become a notary public in Georgia
Step 1
The majority of Georgia counties participate in a web-based application process. Click here to determine if your county participates in the web-based application process.
Does your county appear in the list of counties participating in the web-based application?
Yes –
Step 2
Click here to begin the web-based application
- Select your county.
- Enter the 3-digit code that is displayed on the screen. (If the code does not appear, contact GSCCCA Customer Support at 800-304-5174 or 404-327-9760.)
- Enter the appropriate application type (new or renewal).
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the form.
- If endorser signatures are required, have your endorsers sign the application. (Endorsers are character references who live in your county of application, have known you for over 30 days, and are not related to you.)
Step 3
Take the signed application to the Clerk of Superior Court in the county of application to finish the application process, pay the appointment fee, and take the oath of office.
Step 4
Purchase a notary seal (metal emboss type or rubber ink stamp) from an office supply store or a notary trade association. Note: For renewing notaries: you may use your existing notary seal/stamp if the information on the seal matches exactly the information on the new commission.
Does your county appear in the list of counties participating in the web-based application?
No –
Step 2
If the county you are applying in does not participate in the web-based process, please contact the Clerk of Superior Court to obtain an application. For a complete listing of offices, visit the Superior Court Clerks Section.
- Complete the application.
- If endorser signatures are required, have your endorsers sign the application. (Endorsers are character references who live in your county of application, have known you for over 30 days, and are not related to you.)
Step 3
Take the signed application to the Clerk of Superior Court in the county of application to finish the application process, pay the appointment fee, and take the oath of office.
Step 4
Purchase a notary seal (metal emboss type or rubber ink stamp) from an office supply store or a notary trade association. Note: For renewing notaries: you may use your existing notary seal/stamp if the information on the seal matches exactly the information on the new commission.
For county-specific questions, such as acceptable payment methods or office hours, you can contact the commissioning Clerk of the Superior Court’s office here.
How do I renew my Georgia notary commission?
Renewing your Georgia notary commission requires you to take the same steps as applying for a Georgia notary commission for the first time. A new application should be started before the notary’s expiration date to ensure uninterrupted authority.
When can I renew my Georgia notary commission?
You can renew your Georgia notary commission up to thirty days before your commission expiration date.
How much does it cost to become a notary public in Georgia?
To become a Georgia notary, you must pay a notary public notarization fee to have Section 3 B on the notary application completed. The County Clerk of Superior Court will also require you to pay a $37.00-$42.00 fee (prices vary from county to county) to take the oath of office (Section 6 of application) and have your Georgia Notary Certificate of Appointment of Notary Public issued to you.
After becoming a Georgia notary public, you must purchase a Georgia notary stamp or notary embosser here (prices will vary according to the items you select).
How long does it take to become a notary public in Georgia?
The time it takes to become a Georgia notary varies from applicant to applicant. To be issued your Georgia Certificate of Appointment of Notary Public, you’ll have to:
- Start an online notary application
- Have Sections 3 and 4 of the notary application completed
- Take the application to your County Superior Court Clerk’s Office, and
- Pay the clerk a $37.00-$42.00 fee to take the oath of office.
How long does a Georgia notary commission last?
A Georgia notary term lasts four years. To verify when your term begins and ends you’ll have to take a look at the effective and expiration dates of the Georgia Certificate of Appointment of Notary Public that was issued to you by the County Clerk of Superior Court.
To continue performing notarial acts as a Georgia notary after your current expiration date, you’ll have to renew your commission before your notary term expires. Click here to renew your commission.
Do I need to purchase a Georgia notary errors and omissions (E&O) policy?
The Georgia notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is optional but highly recommended. It will cover any unintentional errors or omissions made by the notary. It is very affordable and covers you even if a claim is invalid. You can purchase it here.
What notary supplies do I need when I become a Georgia notary?
When becoming a Georgia notary, to perform notarial acts in the State of Georgia, you need at a minimum a Georgia notary stamp or an embossing seal. A notary record book sometimes called a journal is recommended by the County Clerk of Superior Court but not required. A Georgia notary stamp or seal must meet the following requirements:
- Be a rubber inking stamp or an embossing seal that makes a raised impression.
- Include the notary’s name as it appears on their Georgia Notary Certificate of Appointment of Notary Public.
- Include the words “Notary Public.”
- Include the word “Georgia” or “GA.”
- Include the name of the county where the notary is commissioned.
Please note a complete notarial act should include a notary’s signature, notary seal, date of notarization, and the notary’s commission expiration date. You can order your Georgia notary supplies here.
All notary stamps and notary supplies come with a lifetime replacement guarantee, are made in-house, and are shipped in one business day.
How can I train to become a public notary in Georgia?
The Georgia Superior Court Clerk’s Cooperative Authority website has a free web-based training course here. You may also purchase a Georgia Notary Law Handbook here.
Duties of a Notary
The main role of a notary is to verify the authenticity of legal documents and create a trustworthy environment for parties to an agreement. The legal documents must meet the minimum requirements to be notarized. Some of the requirements include a stated commitment, original signatures from the parties involved in the agreement, as well as photo identification of the signatories.
If a notary is satisfied that the document meets all the requirements, he/she awards a notarial certificate and appends the seal of the notary on the document. However, if a legal document does not meet the requirements or the identity of the participating parties is uncertain, a notary may refuse to authenticate the document.
Other duties of a notary include the following:
- Identifying fraud
- Affirming the state of mind of participating parties
- Verifying and recording the identification of agreement participants
- Completing notarial certificate on all documents
- Bearing witness to documents/items in a safe deposit box
- Maintaining a notary journal
- Administering oaths
- Taking affidavits and statutory declarations
- Handling loan documents, contracts, marriage certificates, and other legal documents
Where can I notarize a document?
Many notaries provide their services and create listings or web pages with contact information. Many packaging stores, postal centres, postal services, and copy centres have notaries employed. Some places you can get a document notarized are:
- Post offices
- Banks and credit unions
- Real estate firms
- Tax and accounting Offices
- Libraries
- Colleges
- Shipping stores
You can also look online for online notaries in your area. Some states began exploring electronic and remote notary options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many states have enacted legislation authorizing Remote Online Notarization (RON) following the Covid-19 outbreak and pandemic.
Using RON, you can access the services of a notary online from anywhere as long as your state’s requirements are met. Most states place regulatory compliance on the office of the Secretary of State—you can check with your Secretary of State to see if RON is available.
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