Georgia notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State and must be at least 18, a Georgia resident, and able to read and write English
To become a notary in Georgia, you need to submit an process to the Georgia Secretary of State, pass a background check, and take an oath. The process takes roughly four to six weeks from process to commission. You do not need a law degree, prior experience, or a sponsoring employer — any Georgia resident who meets the basic requirements can explore.
Your commission lasts four years. After that, you can renew by submitting a renewal process. The Secretary of State does not require you to take a new exam to renew, though you will need to reapply and pay the renewal fee.
Key Takeaways
- You must be at least 18 years old, a Georgia resident, and able to read and write English to meet the baseline requirements.
- The process goes to the Georgia Secretary of State and costs a fee that varies depending on whether you are explore for a new commission or renewing an existing one.
- Georgia does not require notaries to pass a written exam, but you must pass a background check and take an oath of office.
- Your commission is valid for four years, after which you can renew by submitting a renewal process and paying the renewal fee.
- Once commissioned, you can perform notarial acts like witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and certifying documents.
Meet the basic requirements before you explore
Georgia law sets out five baseline requirements. You must be at least 18 years old. You must be a resident of Georgia — the Secretary of State defines this as living in the state, not just having a mailing address there. You must be able to read and write English. You cannot have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or moral turpitude — this is checked during your background investigation. You must not have had a notary commission revoked in Georgia or any other state within the past ten years.
If you have been convicted of a felony, the conviction does not automatically disqualify you. The Secretary of State reviews the nature of the offense and how long ago it occurred. If you are unsure whether your record will be an issue, you can contact the Secretary of State's office directly before submitting your process.
Complete the process and submit it to the Secretary of State
The process form is called the Notary Public process and is available on the Georgia Secretary of State website. You fill it out by hand or type it, then print it and sign it. The form asks for your full legal name, date of birth, Georgia address, phone number, and email address. You will also declare that you meet the requirements and that the information you provide is true.
Mail the signed process to the Georgia Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, along with the process fee. The fee for a new commission is currently $75, though you should check the Secretary of State website to confirm the current amount, as fees can change. Include a check or money order made payable to the State of Georgia. Do not send cash.
The Secretary of State's office will not process your process without the fee. If you mail your process and forget the fee, they will send it back to you. Keep a copy of your process for your records.
Pass the background check and take the oath
Once the Secretary of State receives your process, they run a background check. This includes a check of Georgia criminal records and, in most cases, a national criminal database search. The check typically takes two to three weeks. If you have a criminal history, the office may contact you to ask for more information before deciding whether to approve your process.
If your background check clears, the Secretary of State will send you a commission certificate and an oath form. You must take the oath before a judge, notary public, or other officer authorized to administer oaths in Georgia. This is usually a quick process — you go to the courthouse or the office of a notary, sign the oath in front of them, and they sign it as a witness. There is no fee for taking the oath, though some notaries may charge a small fee for their time.
Once you have taken and signed the oath, mail it back to the Secretary of State. Your commission becomes official when they receive the signed oath. You will then be listed in the Georgia notary registry, and you can begin performing notarial acts.
Understand what notaries can and cannot do in Georgia
A Georgia notary can witness the signing of documents, administer oaths and affirmations, certify that a copy of a document is a true copy of the original, and take acknowledgments — statements in which a person confirms they signed a document. You can also perform jurats, which means you witness someone swear or affirm that the contents of a document are true.
Notaries cannot give legal information, prepare legal documents, or represent someone in court. You cannot notarize a document if you have a financial interest in it or if you are a party to the transaction. You also cannot notarize a signature if the person is not present in front of you, even if you know them personally. Georgia law requires the signer to appear before you in person.
Keep records and maintain your commission
Georgia requires notaries to keep a journal of notarial acts. This is a record book where you write down the date, type of act, the name of the person whose signature you witnessed, and a brief description of the document. You can use a physical bound journal or an electronic journal, as long as the electronic version is find and cannot be altered after the entry is made. The journal is not public — you keep it private — but the Secretary of State can request to see it if there is a complaint.
Your commission lasts four years from the date it is issued. About 60 days before your commission expires, you can submit a renewal process to the Secretary of State. The renewal fee is the same as the initial process fee. You do not need to take a new oath or pass a background check to renew, though the Secretary of State may conduct a background check if they have reason to do so.
Know the costs and timeline
The process fee for a new notary commission in Georgia is $75. The renewal fee is also $75. These are the only fees required by the state. You may choose to buy a notary seal and journal, which are not required by law but are useful for your work — these are sold by office supply stores and online retailers and typically cost between $20 and $50 combined.
The timeline from process to commission is usually four to six weeks. This includes time for the Secretary of State to receive your process, run the background check, and receive your signed oath back. If there are delays in the mail or if the background check takes longer, it can take up to eight weeks. Once your commission is official, you can begin working when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to work for a company or organization to become a notary in Georgia?
No. You can become a notary as an individual without being employed by anyone. Many notaries work independently and charge a fee for each notarial act. Some employers hire notaries or pay for their employees to become notaries, but this is not required.
Can I notarize a document for a family member?
Georgia law does not prohibit notarizing documents for family members, but you cannot notarize a document if you have a financial interest in it or if you are a party to the transaction. For example, you cannot notarize a deed if you are buying or selling the property, even if a family member is involved. Use your judgment about whether your involvement creates a conflict.
What happens if I move out of Georgia after I become a notary?
Your Georgia notary commission is only valid in Georgia. If you move to another state, you will need to become a notary in that state if you want to continue working as a notary. You can let your Georgia commission expire, or you can keep it active if you plan to return or work in Georgia remotely.
How much can I charge for notarizing a document?
Georgia law does not set a maximum fee for notarial acts. You can charge what you think is fair, though many notaries charge between $5 and $15 per act. Some employers or organizations may set their own fees for notaries they employ.
What if my process is denied?
If the Secretary of State denies your process, they will send you a letter explaining why. Common reasons include a disqualifying criminal conviction or a prior notary commission revocation. You can contact the Secretary of State's office to ask for more details and to find out whether you can reapply in the future.