In many states you can become a notary public simply by making an application and paying the application fee. Some states require you to successfully pass an examination on state’s laws. Some states require education and the successful passing of an examination.
If state law requires some education, these classes are usually only a few hours long and are inexpensive to attend. Some of the educators are licensed by state to teach the required notary classes. These educators may arrange for the test to be given at the end of the class. This is a quick way to accomplish both the education and the examination.
If it is necessary to pass an examination, the state will notify you of your results and send you the application once you are successful.
The examination covers the notary laws. If your state does not require education but does require an examination, a booklet covering the laws and duties of notary public’s can be ordered. This should enable you to successfully pass the test. Many of these states offer classes for those desiring a little more help.
Some states require a fingerprints and photo with the application.
You will need to obtain the necessary supplies once you have passed the examination. These are usually a seal or a stamp.
The work done by notary public’s is very important. You will act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents. You will be verifying the identities of signers on documents. Some of these documents will transfer all rights to a property, encumber the property, give someone else the right to make decisions or state how something is to be done in the future. These documents contain life changing instructions.
Some of the common requirements are that the notary be at least 18 years old, reside in the state, and pay the required fees. California, for example, requires six hours of education, passing an examination, making application, providing fingerprints and a photo and passing a FBI and State of California Department of Justice background check. The appointment in California is good for four years.
Most, if not all, states will not issue a notary commission to anyone that has been convicted of a felony. If a notary has a current commission, it will be voided upon the felony conviction.
Once you are licensed you can work anywhere in the state. A very few states allow bordering states to notarize documents within their borders. One of these is Montana. If you live in Wyoming or North Dakota you can notarize documents in Montana and vice versa.
Notaries do acknowledgments and juror. Acknowledgments state that the signer is acting on his or her own free will. With the juror, you are giving an oath to the signer that the signer does swear or affirm to the written document.
In the United States notaries have no legal authority. They cannot give legal advice or help prepare a document. They cannot even make recommendations as to using an acknowledgment or a juror.
It is quick, easy and inexpensive to become a notary public in most states.
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