How to Become a Notary in Georgia (2026): Requirements, Cost & Steps

Requirements verified July 18, 2026 against Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA)

Georgia notaries apply through the Clerk of Superior Court in their home county, complete a free required online training course, and pay a county fee of $40–$55. There is no bond and no state exam, and the commission lasts four years.

Georgia handles notary commissions at the county courthouse, not through the Secretary of State. You apply to the Clerk of Superior Court in your home county, pay a fee that runs $40–$55 depending on the county, and take an oath in front of the clerk. Two neighbors — literally, two unrelated adults from your county who have known you at least 30 days — must vouch for you in writing. Since January 1, 2025, everyone also has to pass a free online training course from the Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) before being appointed, and again before every renewal.

The practical version: take the free course, submit the application (most counties start it online through the GSCCCA portal), bring your endorsements to the clerk, pay the fee, take the oath, and buy a stamp. No bond, no exam. Total cost is usually under $100 and the commission is good for four years.

Two things make Georgia different from most states. First, notary fees are capped at just $2 per act, so notarizing alone is not a money-maker. Second, Georgia is a strict attorney-closing state — the Supreme Court of Georgia has ruled that only a licensed attorney can conduct a real estate closing — so the freelance loan-signing career path you may have read about elsewhere mostly doesn't apply here.

Who can become a notary in Georgia?

• Age: at least 18 years old.
• Residency: You must be a legal resident of the Georgia county where you apply. Residents of a state that borders Georgia can also apply if they work or run a business in the Georgia county where they file.
• Background: Georgia law does not list an automatic felony bar. The application is public record and the Clerk of Superior Court decides appointments. If you have a criminal record, confirm your situation with your county clerk before paying the fee.
• U.S. citizen or legal resident of the United States.
• Able to read and write English.
• Must provide a working telephone number on the application.
• Two endorsers must sign affidavits vouching for your character. Each must be 18 or older, live in the county where you apply, have known you more than 30 days, and not be related to you.

How to apply: step by step

1. Complete the required notary training course (mandatory since January 1, 2025). The GSCCCA offers a free online course at elearn.gsccca.org.
2. Fill out the Notary Public Application. Most counties let you start it online through the GSCCCA portal (apps.gsccca.org/notaryapplication); in non-participating counties, get the paper form from your county Clerk of Superior Court.
3. Have your two endorsers complete and sign their character affidavits.
4. Bring the printed application and affidavits to the Clerk of Superior Court in your county (your county of employment if you live in a bordering state) and pay the fee of $40–$55, which varies by county.
5. Take the oath of office before the clerk. The clerk then issues your four-year certificate of appointment.
6. Buy a notary seal — ink stamp or embosser — showing your name, the words 'Notary Public', your county of appointment, and 'Georgia'.

How long it takes: Georgia does not publish a statewide processing time. Commissioning happens at the county level, and many clerks issue the certificate when you appear to take the oath — confirm timing with your county Clerk of Superior Court.

What it costs in Georgia

Exam and training

Required course: Required since January 1, 2025. You must finish an approved notary training class before your first appointment, and again within 30 days before each renewal. The GSCCCA's online course is free.

No state exam. The mandatory online training course is the only required study step.

Can you notarize online in Georgia? RON not authorized

No — Georgia has not authorized its notaries to perform remote online notarization. RON bills (SB 8 and HB 289) moved through committees in the 2025–2026 General Assembly but had not become law as of July 2026; neither appears on the Governor's 2026 signed-legislation list. Georgia does recognize RON performed by out-of-state notaries under their own state's law. Check the GSCCCA site for updates before relying on this.

Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.

After you're commissioned

Get your stamp and journal. A seal is required to complete a notarial act (signature + seal + date). Either a rubber ink stamp or an embosser is acceptable. It must show your name, the words 'Notary Public', your county of appointment, and the state name. Georgia does not require the commission expiration date on the seal, and no specific shape or size is mandated. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Georgia stamp requirements before you order.

What you can charge: Georgia caps notary fees at $2 per notarial act. O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11 caps the fee at $2.00 per notarial act (plus $2.00 for a certificate of commission if one is requested). You must tell the signer the fee before performing the act. This is one of the lowest caps in the country, so per-signature notary income in Georgia is minimal.

E&O insurance: Not required. Optional errors-and-omissions insurance protects you from mistake claims; Georgia has no bond protecting the public, so some notaries carry E&O anyway.

Earning more with your commission

Most new notaries who turn the commission into real income do it through loan signings — notarizing mortgage document packages for title companies. That path is limited in Georgia (see the callout above), so weigh it before investing in training. Loan signing agent guide

Georgia notary FAQ