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

Requirements verified July 19, 2026 against West Virginia Secretary of State

West Virginia notaries apply online to the Secretary of State for $52 — no bond, no exam, no required training. The commission lasts five years, and adding electronic or remote notarization authority later is free.

West Virginia stripped its notary process down to a single online filing: $52 to the Secretary of State through the ERLS portal, no bond, no exam, no class. You attest that you have read the notary law (W. Va. Code §39-4), the state emails your commission letter, and you order a stamp built exactly to the letter's specifications. The commission is one of the longer ones around — five years.

The practical path: file online, pay $52 (free if you are a state or local government notary with a letter from your office head), wait roughly a week or two for standard processing, then buy the rectangular 'Official Seal' stamp with your name, address, and expiration date. Fees you can charge are capped at $10 per signature, so plan on volume or add-on services rather than big per-act income.

Two things set West Virginia apart. Adding electronic and remote notarization authority is free — one E-Notarization Authorization filing covers e-notary, RON, and the state's unusual 'remote ink' option, where the signer signs a paper document on camera and mails it in. And West Virginia is generally treated as an attorney closing state: the State Bar says real estate closings belong to licensed attorneys, which reshapes loan-signing work into attorney-supervised territory.

Who can become a notary in West Virginia?

• Age: at least 18 years old.
• Residency: You must be a West Virginia resident, or a resident of another state who works at an office address in West Virginia.
• Background: Under W. Va. Code §39-4-21, the Secretary of State may deny a commission for any felony conviction or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit, for dishonest statements on the application, or for a notary commission revoked or denied in another state. Denial is discretionary, not automatic — contact the Notary Division before paying if you have a record.
• U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Able to read and write English.
• High school diploma or its equivalent (waived only for notaries first commissioned before January 1, 2018).
• You must attest that you have read West Virginia's notary law (W. Va. Code §39-4) and understand the duties of the office.

How to apply: step by step

1. Read W. Va. Code §39-4, the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts — the application makes you attest that you have reviewed it and understand a notary's duties.
2. Complete the Application for Appointment as a Notary Public online through the Secretary of State's Enterprise Registration and Licensing System (erls.wvsos.gov). You will enter your name exactly as you will sign notarizations and a West Virginia mailing address that will appear on your stamp.
3. Pay the $52 filing fee at checkout. The fee is waived for state and local government notaries who include a letter from their office head (federal employees do not qualify for the waiver).
4. Receive your commission letter by email and check it carefully — it lists the exact name and address that must appear on your seal.
5. Order your official stamp from any vendor using the commission letter's specifications. The Secretary of State does not make or sell stamps.
6. Receive your Certificate of Commission, valid for five years. You may begin notarizing once you have the certificate and your stamp.
7. Optional: file the free E-Notarization Authorization application (also through ERLS) if you want to perform electronic, remote online, or remote ink notarizations — you must already have your technology vendor lined up.

How long it takes: The Secretary of State's filing instructions list standard processing of about 5-10 business days, with optional paid expedited service. Confirm current turnaround with the Notary Division (304-558-8000) before counting on a date.

What it costs in West Virginia

Exam and training

West Virginia does not require an exam or a mandatory course. No required training. The Secretary of State publishes a free Notary Handbook and expects applicants to study W. Va. Code §39-4 on their own.

Can you notarize online in West Virginia? RON allowed

Yes — West Virginia authorizes remote online notarization (RON). Remote notarization was made permanent by SB 469 (2021), effective June 17, 2021, at W. Va. Code §39-4-37 (RON) and §39-4-38 (RIN). Audiovisual recordings of RON and RIN sessions must be kept at least five years. The e-notary registration expires with your underlying commission.

To add RON to your commission: Hold a regular commission in good standing, then file the E-Notarization Authorization application through ERLS — there is no fee. You must already have access to the notarization technology and name your vendor in the application; any vendor change requires a new filing before you keep notarizing. The same authorization process covers in-person electronic notarization (e-notary), remote online notarization (RON), and West Virginia's hybrid remote ink notarization (RIN, for paper documents signed on camera and mailed to the notary).

Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.

After you're commissioned

Get your stamp and journal. A rubber stamp seal no larger than 1 x 2.5 inches with a border. It must contain the words 'Official Seal', 'Notary Public', and 'State of West Virginia', plus your name, your address (home or business, as listed on your commission), and your commission expiration date. Order it only after your commission letter arrives — the letter dictates the exact wording — and report any change or loss of the stamp to the Secretary of State. See the new-notary supplies checklist and West Virginia stamp requirements before you order.

What you can charge: West Virginia caps notary fees at $10 per signature notarized. W. Va. Code §39-4-30 caps fees at $10 for each signature notarized (including the journal entry), $10 per 8.5x11 page for certifying a copy of a document, and $10 for any other notarial act. Charging more is a ground for the Secretary of State to revoke or suspend your commission.

E&O insurance: Not required, and since West Virginia has no bond either, optional errors-and-omissions insurance is the only financial backstop a notary here can carry against claims over a mistake.

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 West Virginia (see the callout above), so weigh it before investing in training. Loan signing agent guide

West Virginia notary FAQ