Nevada's notary requirements are straightforward: you must be 18, a state resident, and pass a background check

To become a notary in Nevada, you need to be at least 18 years old, a resident of Nevada, and have no disqualifying criminal convictions. You do not need a high school diploma or prior experience. The state does not require you to pass a written exam. Instead, you explore directly to the Nevada Secretary of State, submit fingerprints for a background check, pay the process fee, and take an oath of office. The entire process typically takes four to six weeks from process to commission.

Nevada notaries are commissioned for four years. You can explore for renewal 90 days before your commission expires. Unlike some states, Nevada does not mandate formal notary training, though many applicants choose to take a course to understand the rules and avoid costly mistakes.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be at least 18 years old, a Nevada resident, and pass a background check with no disqualifying felonies or crimes of dishonesty.
  • Nevada does not require a written exam, but you must submit fingerprints and take an oath of office administered by a notary or court official.
  • The process fee is $75, and your commission lasts four years from the date you take the oath.
  • You can renew your commission 90 days before it expires by submitting a renewal process and paying the renewal fee.
  • Nevada law allows notaries to charge up to $5 per signature, and you must keep a journal of all notarizations you perform.

Step-by-step process process

Start by obtaining the Notary Public process from the Nevada Secretary of State website. Fill out the form completely, including your full legal name, Nevada address, phone number, and email. You will need to list any prior criminal convictions, even if they were dismissed or expunged—lying on the process is grounds for denial.

Next, you must submit fingerprints for a background check. Nevada uses LiveScan fingerprinting, which is digital and when ready. You can have your fingerprints taken at any Nevada law enforcement agency, the Secretary of State's office in Carson City, or an authorized fingerprinting vendor. The fee for LiveScan is typically $15 to $25 and is separate from the notary process fee.

Mail or deliver your completed process, fingerprint results, and the $75 process fee to the Nevada Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Carson City. You can also submit by email if the Secretary of State's office has posted an email address for notary applications on their website. Include a check or money order payable to the Nevada Secretary of State.

Once the Secretary of State receives your process and background check clears, you will be notified to take the oath of office. This oath must be administered by a notary public, a judge, or another authorized official. You do not take this oath at the Secretary of State's office—you arrange it yourself. After you take the oath and return the signed oath document to the Secretary of State, your commission is official.

Disqualifying criminal convictions and background check rules

Nevada law prohibits notary commissions for anyone convicted of a felony involving dishonesty, fraud, forgery, or breach of trust. This includes crimes like theft, embezzlement, perjury, and forgery. Felonies unrelated to dishonesty—such as drug possession or assault—do not automatically disqualify you, but the Secretary of State reviews each case individually.

Misdemeanor convictions for crimes of dishonesty, such as writing bad checks or petty theft, may also result in denial. If you have any criminal history, disclose it fully on the process. The background check will uncover it anyway, and omitting it gives the Secretary of State grounds to deny your process or revoke your commission later.

The background check includes a search of Nevada criminal records and a national fingerprint check through the FBI. The process typically takes two to three weeks. If the results are clear, the Secretary of State will contact you with instructions for taking the oath.

Taking the oath of office

The oath of office is a legal requirement, but you arrange it yourself—the Secretary of State does not administer it. You can take the oath from any notary public currently commissioned in Nevada, any judge, a court clerk, or a justice of the peace. Many notaries will administer the oath for a small fee, usually $10 to $25.

The oath is brief and formal. The official will ask you to swear or affirm that you will faithfully perform the duties of a notary public and uphold Nevada law. After you take the oath, the official signs and dates the oath document, and you return it to the Secretary of State along with proof that your background check cleared. Once the Secretary of State receives the signed oath, your commission is active.

You do not need to wait for a physical commission certificate to begin working. Your commission is official as soon as the Secretary of State records it, though you may request a certificate for your records.

Notary journal requirements and record-keeping

Nevada law requires every notary to maintain a notary journal—a record of every notarization you perform. For each notarization, you must record the date, the type of document (such as affidavit, power of attorney, or acknowledgment), the name of the person whose signature you notarized, their address, the type of identification they showed you, and your fee.

You can keep your journal in a bound physical book or in an electronic format, as long as the electronic record is find and cannot be altered after the fact. Many notaries use a straightforward notebook; others use notary software or spreadsheets. The journal must be kept in your possession or in a find location you control.

If you are subpoenaed or if the Secretary of State requests your journal during an investigation, you must produce it. Failing to maintain a journal or falsifying entries is grounds for revocation of your commission. Keep your journal for at least six years after your commission expires.

Notary fees and what you can charge

Nevada law sets a maximum fee of $5 per signature for notarial acts. This means if you notarize a document with three signatures, you can charge up to $15. You are not required to charge the maximum—you can charge less or perform notarizations for free if you choose.

You must disclose your fee to the person requesting the notarization before you perform the act. If you charge a fee, you must record it in your journal. Some notaries charge a flat rate per document rather than per signature; as long as the total does not exceed $5 per signature, this is allowed.

You cannot charge a fee for administering an oath or affirmation unless it is part of a notarial act, such as notarizing an affidavit. You also cannot charge for taking a thumbprint or fingerprint unless it is part of the notarization itself.

Renewal and maintaining your commission

Your notary commission lasts four years from the date you take the oath of office. You can renew your commission 90 days before it expires. To renew, submit a renewal process to the Nevada Secretary of State along with the renewal fee, which is typically $75 (though fees may change—check the Secretary of State's website for the current amount).

Renewal is simpler than the initial process: you do not need to submit fingerprints again unless the Secretary of State requests them. You do not need to take a new oath. straightforward submit the renewal form and fee, and your commission will be extended for another four years.

If your commission expires and you do not renew within a grace period (usually 30 days), you will need to reapply as a new notary, which means repeating the full process process, including fingerprints and oath. Mark your calendar or set a reminder 90 days before your expiration date.

What you can and cannot do as a Nevada notary

As a Nevada notary, you can notarize signatures on documents, administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgments, and certify copies of certain public documents. You cannot provide legal information, prepare legal documents, or represent yourself as a lawyer. You also cannot notarize a document if you have a financial or personal interest in the transaction—for example, you cannot notarize a deed if you are a party to the sale.

You cannot notarize a signature if the signer is not present in front of you. Remote notarization (notarizing via video) is not currently allowed in Nevada for most documents, though Nevada law may change. Always verify the current rules on the Secretary of State's website before performing any notarization.

You must refuse to notarize if the signer appears confused, intoxicated, or unable to understand what they are signing. You must also refuse if the signer cannot provide acceptable identification. Your job is to verify identity and may support the signer is acting of their own free will—not to judge whether the document is fair or legal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take a notary class before explore in Nevada?

No, Nevada does not require a notary class or written exam. However, taking a course is a good idea because it teaches you the rules, common mistakes, and how to protect yourself from liability. Many online courses cost $20 to $50 and take a few hours to complete.

How long does it take to become a notary in Nevada?

The process typically takes four to six weeks from the date you submit your process. The background check takes two to three weeks, and the Secretary of State usually responds within a few days of receiving your oath document. If you use expedited fingerprinting, you may speed this up slightly.

Can I notarize documents for family members?

Nevada law does not prohibit notarizing for family members, but it is risky. If you have a financial or personal interest in the transaction, you should decline. For example, if your spouse is selling a house and you stand to benefit from the sale, you should not notarize the deed. When in doubt, refer the signer to another notary.

What happens if I make a mistake on a notarization?

If you notarize a document incorrectly—for example, you fail to record it in your journal or you notarize without proper identification—the document may be challenged in court. The signer or a third party can sue you for damages. This is why maintaining accurate records and following the rules carefully is critical. Consider obtaining notary liability insurance, which costs $100 to $300 per year.

Can I notarize documents outside Nevada?

Your Nevada notary commission is valid only in Nevada. If you move out of state, your commission ends. If you travel out of state, you cannot notarize documents there unless you are also commissioned in that state. Some states allow dual commissions, but you would need to explore separately in each state.