How Do You Become A Notary Public?
Notary Publics first became prominent during the 1500’s, at the height of the Roman Empire. They were chosen either by the Pope, or the Archbishop of Canterbury to whom the Pope delegated authority. During those years notaries were well versed in foreign languages, as well as the principles and practices of law. On the other hand, becoming a notary public in the U.S., thereby serving as witness to the signing of documents and an administrator of oaths, does not require special training or experience. It is a relatively easy position to secure, in most cases only requiring the candidate to pass a short test and undergo a background check. With this in mind, the rights and privileges accorded to a notary public do not extend beyond the basic duties of an impartial witness. More specifically, they are not permitted to give any form of legal counsel, prepare legal documents or otherwise practice law. For those interested in becoming a licensed notary, there are three basic steps to follow:
A notary public witnesses a person’s signature on different types of documents, thereby verifying that the individual did indeed sign the paper of his or her own free will. For this service, the notary receives a fee set by the state. Step 1 Be at least 18 years old and an official resident of the state in which you want to be a notary. Step 2 Obtain the application for a notary commission from your state or from the nonprofit National Notary Association (NNA). Note that each state has different eligibility criteria for its notaries. Visit the NNA Web site at nationalnotary.org. Step 3 Be prepared to pay a filing fee and, in most states, to post a bond before assuming the office. Go to the NNA Web site for the individual state fees and bond requirements. Also check the site for your state’s requirements on written examinations and the fingerprinting of notaries. Step 4 Attend a workshop for prospective notaries to gain in-depth information about the law, ethics and special situations.
