Georgia notary appointment
Georgia notary public: appointed by your county's Clerk of Superior Court
Take GSCCCA's free notary training course, fill in the application with two endorsers from your county, then file it with your county's Clerk of Superior Court, pay the county's fee ($40 to $55) and take the oath there. Georgia requires no bond, and the commission lasts four years.
Who the clerk can appoint
- At least 18.
- A US citizen or a legal resident of the United States.
- A legal resident of the county where you apply. If you live in a bordering state, you apply in the Georgia county where you work or do business.
- Able to read and write English, with a working phone number for the application.
- Finished the notary training course, required since January 1, 2025.
Source: Notary Public Application, GSCCCA; General Notary Information, GSCCCA.
From training course to courthouse
- Take the training course. GSCCCA runs a free web-based course at elearn.gsccca.org. Print the Certificate of Completion.
- Fill in the application. Many counties use the GSCCCA web-based application, which you print. In other counties, get the form from the Clerk of Superior Court.
- Line up two endorsers. Two people who are 18 or older, live in your county, are not related to you and have known you more than 30 days sign affidavits about your integrity and good moral character.
- File at the Clerk of Superior Court. Bring the signed application and course certificate, pay the county's fee and take the oath of office there. The clerk issues your certificate of appointment.
- Buy your seal last. Order it only once you have the certificate, so the name and county match exactly.
Source: Notary Public Application, GSCCCA; General Notary Information, GSCCCA.
Georgia costs, set mostly by your county
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Training course | $0 GSCCCA's web-based course is free. |
| Appointment fee | $40 to $55 Set by the county. Confirm the amount and payment methods with your clerk. |
| Bond | None required Georgia does not bond notaries. |
| Seal | Vendor price Embosser or ink stamp; Georgia treats them the same. |
| Journal for self-filer notarizations | Vendor price Required since 2025 for one kind of act, explained below. |
With a free course and no bond, the county fee and your seal are most of the cost. Call your clerk before you go, since the fee and accepted payment methods differ from county to county.
Source: Notary Public Application, GSCCCA; General Notary Information, GSCCCA.
GA starter kit · $29
Georgia Notary Starter Kit
Georgia's training, endorser and county-clerk steps, the $2 fee, ID rules, the self-filer journal required since 2025, seal rules, what the official pages say about remote work, a checklist, a budget sheet and self-filer journal pages.
Four years, and a 30-day renewal window
A Georgia commission is for four years. Renewals are usually filed no more than 30 days before expiration, and the training course must be taken within the 30 days before each renewal. If GSCCCA has your email address, it sends a reminder 30 days out.
During the term, tell your appointing clerk in writing within 30 days about a change of name, address or phone number, with a copy to GSCCCA. Report a lost or stolen seal within 10 days the same way.
Source: General Notary Information, GSCCCA; Notary Public Application, GSCCCA.
Remote notarization: what the Georgia pages cover
The GSCCCA notary pages our Georgia kit was built from (General Notary Information, Notary Public Application and Georgia Notary Law) describe no remote or online notarization process for Georgia notaries, and we don't state a status beyond that.
Plan on in-person notarizations, with the signer in front of you. If a platform or client asks you to notarize remotely under a Georgia commission, check with your Clerk of Superior Court first.
Source: General Notary Information, GSCCCA; Georgia Notary Law, GSCCCA.
The $2 fee and the self-filer journal
GSCCCA lists $2 as the fee for each notarial act, and a notary may charge nothing. You may charge another $2 for a certificate from the Clerk of Superior Court confirming your commission.
Since January 1, 2025, you keep a written or electronic journal of every act you perform for a self-filer: a party to a deed, mortgage, lien, plat or state tax execution who isn't one of the professionals the law lists, such as an attorney or title insurance agent (O.C.G.A. 45-17-8(g)(2), as amended by HB 1292). Georgia does not issue commission numbers, so your seal shows your name, "Notary Public", "Georgia" or "GA", and your county.
Source: Georgia Notary Law, GSCCCA; HB 1292 (2024), signed.
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Georgia notary questions
Do Georgia notaries need a bond?
No. Georgia does not require notaries to be bonded.
Who can sign as my endorsers?
Two people who are at least 18, live in your county, are not related to you and have known you for more than 30 days.
Can I notarize outside the county that appointed me?
Yes. A Georgia notary may act anywhere in Georgia, even though the appointment comes from one county's clerk.
Will I get a Georgia commission number?
No. Georgia does not issue commission numbers. A number on your certificate is an internal database identifier.
I live in South Carolina but work in Augusta. Can I apply?
Residents of a bordering state who work or do business in Georgia apply in the Georgia county where they work. Confirm with that county's clerk.
Can a Georgia notary perform a wedding?
No. Georgia has not given notaries the authority to perform marriage ceremonies.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Georgia sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Clerk of Superior Court in your county, or GSCCCA before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Georgia, GSCCCA or any clerk's office.