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How do I Become a Notary?

Darrell Laurant
Darrell Laurant

The person in the legal system with whom you are most likely to come in contact is the notary public. They are everywhere -- over 4 million in the United States alone -- and they have to be, because their services are constantly required. Best of all, they are paid a fee each time they affix a stamp to a document or validate a signature. To many, it sounds like a great job.

So how does one become a notary? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer, because the requirements vary from state to state. There are, however, some commonalities.

To become a notary, a person must take an oath before another notary.
To become a notary, a person must take an oath before another notary.

In other to become a notary, you must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the state in which you are applying to practice. A notary application can be obtained either from that state or from the National Notary Association, which has attempted to reduce the confusion created by state-by-state variations.

Most states require that a bond be posted before a notary can take office, and there is often a filing fee. States generally offer classes or workshops to provide prospective notaries with an overview of what the job entails -- and, yes, there may be a test. On the other hand, few states have any specific education requirements.

There are over four million public notaries in the United States.
There are over four million public notaries in the United States.

Oh, and that stamp -- perhaps one of the main reasons many people want to become a notary? Notaries have to purchase that themselves. This generally occurs after they have taken their oath of office in front of another notary. The fees are set by the state, as well.

Once you become a notary, it is important to get your name in circulation. For most notaries, that function is a second job, and it's rare to find someone who occupies an actual notary office. Practitioners range from legal clerks to librarians to bookstore employees, and it rarely matters to the individuals seeking your service. With notaries, like bathroom facilities, the nearest one usually becomes the first choice.

A notary public certifies documents and witnesses signatures.
A notary public certifies documents and witnesses signatures.

Basically, the notary's job in the United States is simply to bear witness in various ways, although they can assume the tasks and status of lawyers in some other countries. In the United States, their mere presence provides a significant deterrent to fraud and forgery, and the inconvenience of having to find one is often overridden by the fact that a notary seal greases the wheels of the legal system.

Discussion Comments

Terrificli

@Melonlity -- for some reason, attorneys don't become notaries as often as they once did. It was standard practice to go out and snag a notary license around the same time a lawyer got an attorney's license.

One of the many things law schools do not teach is the importance of becoming a notary. That's too bad. Frankly, I'm not sure how an attorney practices at all if he doesn't have a notary stamp to use on wills, pleadings, deeds and all sorts of things that float through his office that require a notarized signature.

Melonlity

Quite often, the same lawyer drafting your legal documents is also a notary public. In fact, many clients expect that. Why should your lawyer send you rushing off to a bank or somewhere to get something notarized when he or she can become a notary for very little money?

And, no, we're not talking about much money. In most states, you can get the bond, filing fee with the state and stamp for less than $100. It's just good customer service for an attorney to become a notary so a lot of them do just that.

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    • To become a notary, a person must take an oath before another notary.
      By: qingwa
      To become a notary, a person must take an oath before another notary.
    • There are over four million public notaries in the United States.
      By: Iurii Sokolov
      There are over four million public notaries in the United States.
    • A notary public certifies documents and witnesses signatures.
      By: Gina Sanders
      A notary public certifies documents and witnesses signatures.