Notary FAQ

A notary public is a state-commissioned impartial witness. Notaries verify the identity of signers, confirm they are signing willingly and aware, administer oaths, and complete notarial certificates like acknowledgments and jurats. They do not give legal advice, prepare documents, or make documents "legal" — the notarization attests to the signing, not the content.

Yes — people search for "notary license," but the correct term in every state is a notary commission (or appointment). Your state's commissioning authority, usually the Secretary of State, appoints you as a notary for a set term. There is no separate license.

It depends on the state. The state application fee alone ranges from under $20 to over $100, and some states add a surety bond (you pay a small premium, not the full bond amount), a course, or an exam fee. With a stamp and journal, most people spend somewhere between roughly $50 and $300 total. Every state page on this site itemizes the real numbers.

Anywhere from about a week to a couple of months, depending on the state. States with no exam or course move fastest; states like California require a course, a proctored exam, and a background check, which stretches the timeline. Each state page notes processing-time guidance where the state publishes it.

It varies by state. Many states disqualify applicants with felony convictions, at least for a period of time or until civil rights are restored; others review convictions case by case, often focusing on crimes involving dishonesty. Check the eligibility section of your state's page and the commissioning authority's own rules before paying any fees.

Only in some states. A minority of states mandate a training course (California, for example, requires a state-approved course). Everywhere else, courses are optional study aids — useful, but not legally required. We flag mandatory-course states clearly, and we never call an optional course "required."

A surety bond protects the public — not you — against financial harm from your mistakes or misconduct as a notary. In bond states you buy the bond from a surety company for a modest one-time premium and file it with the state or county. The bond amount (say $10,000) is the coverage ceiling, not what you pay.

In most states, yes — if you first register as a remote online notary. Most states have enacted remote online notarization (RON) laws, and commissioned notaries typically must complete an extra registration, use an approved technology platform, and sometimes pay an additional fee or take extra training. See our guide to becoming a remote online notary, and your state's page for its exact status.

A basic commission by itself rarely produces meaningful income, because most states cap what you can charge per notarial act. Notaries who earn real money usually add specializations — most commonly loan signing work for title companies, where a full signing appointment pays a contracted fee rather than a per-stamp rate. Our loan signing agent guide covers realistic numbers with sources.

Your commission authorizes you to notarize within your commissioning state (a few states offer limited cross-border or dual-commission options with neighbors). A document you properly notarize in your state is generally recognized in every state, though — the commission is local, the notarized document travels.