Alabama notary commission
Alabama notary public: commissioned by your county probate judge
Apply to the judge of probate in the county where you live, using the uniform statewide application and a $10 fee, and finish the required training within 30 days. If the judge approves you, buy a $50,000 bond and record it with the county probate office, paying the county's fees, which include a $25 commission fee. Commissions last four years. Each county sets its own other fees and steps, so check with yours.
Who an Alabama probate judge can commission
- An Alabama resident, applying to the probate judge of the county where you live (36-20-70(c)).
- No felony conviction and no conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude.
- Not currently a debtor in bankruptcy, and not under an order adjudicating you incapacitated.
- Able and willing to finish the required training within 30 days of applying; the judge may extend this for good cause. Attorneys are exempt from training.
- Able to obtain a $50,000 bond. The probate judge has sole discretion to accept or deny an application.
Source: Notaries Public, Alabama Secretary of State; SB322 (Act 2023-548), enrolled.
The county probate office, step by step
- Apply to your county probate judge. Use the uniform statewide application and pay the nonrefundable $10 application fee to the Judge of Probate of your county of residence.
- Finish the training within 30 days. The program is prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute. Save the completion certificate.
- Wait for the appointment letter. If the judge approves you, the probate office sends an appointment letter.
- Buy the $50,000 bond. From an Alabama-licensed bond producer, payable to the State of Alabama. Take your appointment letter to the insurer.
- Record the bond and take the oath. Record the bond with your county probate office within the time it sets, pay the county's filing fees, and take the oath of office before your first notarial act.
Source: Notaries Public, Alabama Secretary of State; SB322 (Act 2023-548), enrolled.
Alabama costs: two set by law, the rest by your county
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $10 Nonrefundable, to the Judge of Probate. |
| Commission fee | $25 Paid to the probate office. |
| Other recording and approval fees | Varies by county Ask your probate office. |
| $50,000 bond premium | Set by bond producer Recorded with the probate office before you act. |
| Seal | Vendor price Ink stamp or embosser. |
The law sets the $10 and $25 fees. Every county adds its own recording and approval charges, so call your probate office or check its website for the total before you start.
Source: SB322 (Act 2023-548), enrolled.
AL starter kit · $29
Alabama Notary Starter Kit
Alabama's probate-judge application, training and $50,000 bond steps, why county rules matter, the $10 cap, ID rules, seal rules, remote notarization including Act 2026-536, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years from your county commission
An Alabama commission lasts four years from the date it is issued (36-20-70(a)) and covers the whole state; the judge reports it to the Secretary of State. Training is required again if you renew an expired commission.
If you move to another county, ask your new probate office what it needs from you. The commissioning judge may warn, restrict, suspend or revoke, and a suspension does not extend the expiration date.
Source: SB322 (Act 2023-548), enrolled; Notaries Public, Alabama Secretary of State.
Remote notarization in Alabama
Alabama allows remote notarization by two-way audio-video communication under 36-20-73.1, with you physically in Alabama. The recording is the required record and is kept seven years. Remote notarization cannot be used for absentee ballot applications, absentee ballot affidavits or anything related to voting.
Since October 1, 2026, Act 2026-536 adds requirements on the signer's understanding and voluntary participation, notice of recording and the signer's location within the United States. Read the Act before your first remote act.
Source: Notaries Public, Alabama Secretary of State; SB322 (Act 2023-548), enrolled.
The $10 fee cap and the seal
Since September 1, 2023, an Alabama notary may charge a reasonable fee of no more than $10 per act (36-20-74). Charging more is a Class C misdemeanor. State, county and municipal employees notarizing as part of public service charge no fee unless other law provides otherwise.
Your seal shows your name, "notary public" and the state of Alabama. On instruments recorded in the public records, apply your signature and seal by ink stamp or embossed impression, and sign with an original wet-ink signature.
Source: SB322 (Act 2023-548), enrolled.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
Alabama notary questions
Where do I apply to be an Alabama notary?
To the judge of probate in the county where you live. There is no separate state application.
How much does an Alabama commission cost?
The law sets a $10 application fee and a $25 commission fee. Counties add their own recording and approval charges, so the total varies by county.
Do Alabama attorneys take the notary training?
No. Attorneys are exempt from the training requirement.
What bond does an Alabama notary need?
A $50,000 bond from an Alabama-licensed bond producer, payable to the State of Alabama and recorded with your county probate office before you act.
Can an Alabama notary notarize voting documents remotely?
No. Remote notarization can't be used for absentee ballot applications, affidavits or anything related to voting.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Alabama sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the judge of probate in your county, and the Alabama Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Alabama or any probate court.