Georgia Notary Public Requirements
Georgia notaries are commissioned by the Clerk of Superior Court in their own county, not a state agency — there’s no bond required, but as of January 1, 2025 every applicant, new or renewing, must complete a state-approved training course first.
- Quick facts
- Steps to get commissioned
- The 2025 training course and journal requirements
- Remote online notarization: not yet available
- Renewal
- FAQ
Quick facts
| Regulator | Clerk of Superior Court in the notary’s county of residence or employment, under standards set by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | At least 18; U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident; able to read and write English; has a working telephone number; regularly resides, works, or carries on a business in the county of application |
| Education or exam | Required since January 1, 2025: a GSCCCA-approved training course (free, roughly 1–2 hours, via elearn.gsccca.org) with a passing exam score of 90%, completed before initial appointment and again within 30 days before each renewal |
| Bond | None — Georgia does not require notaries to carry a surety bond |
| Fee | Roughly $40–$55 for a new appointment or reappointment, set individually by each county’s Clerk of Superior Court (confirmed at $55 in Chatham County) |
| Commission term | 4 years |
Steps to get commissioned
- Confirm your eligibility. At least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, able to read and write English, and living, working, or running a business in the Georgia county where you’re applying.
- Complete the GSCCCA-approved notary training course at elearn.gsccca.org and pass its exam with a 90% score — this has been mandatory for every applicant, new or renewing, since January 1, 2025.
- Apply to the Clerk of Superior Court in your county of residence or employment, submitting your training certificate along with the application.
- Pay the county’s appointment fee — typically in the $40–$55 range, set by that specific county.
- Take your oath of office with the Clerk and receive your 4-year commission. No surety bond is required at any point in this process.
Because Georgia commissions notaries at the county level rather than through a single state office, the exact fee and some procedural details (like whether you can apply online or need to appear in person) vary from one Clerk of Superior Court to the next — check with your specific county’s clerk office before starting the process.
The 2025 training course and journal requirements
House Bill 1292, effective January 1, 2025, added two requirements that didn’t exist for Georgia notaries before. First, every applicant — whether applying for the first time or renewing an existing commission — must complete a GSCCCA-approved educational training course covering the duties of a notary public under O.C.G.A. Title 45, Chapter 17, and pass its exam with a 90% score; for renewals, that course has to be completed within the 30 days immediately before the renewal application. Second, notaries who notarize documents for people who prepared their own paperwork (self-filers) must now keep a written or electronic journal recording details about the signer’s identity and the type of document notarized. Neither requirement existed prior to 2025, so a Georgia notary commissioned before that date should not assume their prior training (or lack of it) carries forward — the training course applies at every renewal going forward as well as to new applicants.
Remote online notarization: not yet available in Georgia
Georgia does not currently authorize full Remote Online Notarization (RON), where the signer appears only by live video and is never physically present. What Georgia does allow is in-person electronic notarization (IPEN) under O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8.1 — the signer must still be physically present with the notary, but the signature and notarial seal can be applied electronically instead of with pen and paper. A bill to authorize full RON, HB 289, has moved through committee but had not been signed into law as of this page’s last review. If you see a guide claiming Georgia notaries can notarize for signers appearing only by video, treat that as outdated or incorrect until state law actually changes — check the GSCCCA’s own site for the current status before assuming RON is available.
Renewal
Georgia notary commissions run for 4 years. To renew, you complete the GSCCCA training course again within 30 days before your renewal application, then reapply to your county’s Clerk of Superior Court and pay the appointment fee — there’s no automatic renewal or grace period built into the process, so it’s worth starting the training course early enough that you’re not left without an active commission while you wait on paperwork.
Do Georgia notaries need a surety bond?
No. Unlike states such as Florida, Texas, or California, Georgia does not require notaries public to carry a surety bond at any point — not for a new commission and not for renewal.
Is the notary training course required if I’m just renewing my commission?
Yes. Since January 1, 2025, the GSCCCA-approved training course and its 90%-passing exam are required for every renewal, not just first-time applicants, and must be completed within 30 days before you submit your renewal application.
Does a Georgia notary commission work in every county, or just where I applied?
A Georgia notary commission is valid statewide once granted, even though you apply through and are commissioned by the Clerk of Superior Court in a specific county (your county of residence or employment). You don’t need a separate commission to notarize documents in a different Georgia county.