Kentucky notary commission
Kentucky notary public: approved in Frankfort, qualified at your county clerk
Apply to the Secretary of State with the $10 fee, naming the county clerk where you'll qualify. Once approved, buy a $1,000 surety bond, then appear in person at that county clerk within 30 days to take the oath, file the bond and pay the clerk's fee. Kentucky sets no training or exam for a traditional commission, which lasts four years.
Kentucky eligibility
- 18 or older (KRS 423.390(2)(a)).
- A US citizen or a permanent legal resident.
- A resident of the Kentucky county where you apply, or with a place of employment or practice in that county.
- Able to read and write English.
- Not disqualified under KRS 423.395, which includes a felony or a crime of fraud, dishonesty or deceit, a false or incomplete application, misleading advertising, and a commission denied or revoked in another state.
- Able to post a $1,000 surety bond from a company licensed or authorized in Kentucky.
Source: Notary Public State at Large, Kentucky Secretary of State.
State approval, then the county clerk
- Apply to the Secretary of State. Online, or by mailing the State at Large application with the $10 fee payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Name the county clerk where you'll qualify.
- Wait for the approval notice. The Secretary of State sends written notice and makes your certificate of appointment available to the county clerk you named.
- Buy the $1,000 bond. From a surety or other entity licensed or authorized in Kentucky, on the form the Secretary of State prescribes.
- Qualify at the county clerk within 30 days. Appear in person, take the oath, submit the bond and file the commission (KRS 423.390(4)). Bring government ID and the clerk's fee; Boone County, for example, lists $19, cash or check.
- Decide on a stamp and records. A stamp is optional for paper records (KRS 423.370). A journal is required only once you register for online notarization (KRS 423.380).
Source: Notary Public State at Large; Notary Public, Boone County Clerk.
Kentucky costs: state, county, surety
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application or renewal | $10 Payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer (KRS 423.430(3)). |
| County clerk filing and oath | Set by county Boone County lists $19; ask your own clerk. |
| $1,000 surety bond premium | Set by surety Must stay on file with the county clerk. |
| Replacement commission or information update | $10 each KRS 423.430(3). |
| Stamp | Vendor price Optional for paper records. |
The state's charge is $10. Your county clerk's fee and the bond premium are the other startup costs, so call the clerk before you go.
Source: Notary Public State at Large; Notary Public, Boone County Clerk.
KY starter kit · $29
Kentucky Notary Starter Kit
Kentucky's State at Large application, $1,000 bond and county clerk steps, the no-gap renewal rule, fee disclosure, ID rules, optional stamp and the online journal, online and remote registration, a checklist, a budget and log pages.
Four years, with no gap at renewal
A Kentucky commission lasts four years, and your commission number stays the same at every renewal (KRS 423.390(3)). Once the commission, bond and oath are filed, you may act in any Kentucky county.
Apply to renew before your commission expires. The renewed commission and bond are filed with the county clerk named in the renewal application, with a new oath and the clerk's fees, and you may not notarize between the old expiration date and the date the renewal takes effect (KRS 423.390(8)(d)). Report a new name, address, county, signature or notary technology within 10 days, with the $10 fee.
Source: Notary Public State at Large.
Online and remote notarization in Kentucky
Online notarization of electronic records requires registration with the Secretary of State under KRS 423.390(10), and registration takes effect 30 days after you meet the requirements. For remote acts on paper records, notify the Secretary of State by email or mail before your first use of communication technology (30 KAR 8:005, section 7(1)).
You must be physically in Kentucky. Identify the signer by personal knowledge, a credible witness, or at least two identity-proofing processes; knowledge-based questions number at least five, each with five choices, 80% right within two minutes, one retry within 24 hours. Record the session and keep the recording at least 10 years. Online notaries keep an electronic journal for 10 years and may not record government ID numbers or biometric identifiers in it.
Source: 30 KAR 8:005; Notary Public State at Large.
No dollar cap, but disclose first
KRS 423.430(1) sets no dollar maximum for a notarial act. Your fee must comply with KRS 64.300 and be clearly disclosed in advance, and there is no fee for a jurat on papers supporting a federal benefits claim for the service members and dependents KRS 64.300 covers.
Satisfactory evidence of identity is an unexpired passport, driver's license or government ID card, or another current government ID with signature and photo that you accept; a credible witness only if neither is available (KRS 423.325). Don't notarize a record where you, your spouse or another immediate family member is a party or has a direct beneficial interest. If you use a stamp, it shows your name, title, jurisdiction, commission number and expiration date.
Source: Notary Public State at Large; 30 KAR 8:005.
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Kentucky notary questions
Do Kentucky notaries need a stamp?
Not for paper records (KRS 423.370). If you use one, it must show your name, title, jurisdiction, commission number and expiration date.
How long do I have to qualify at the county clerk?
30 days to appear in person, take the oath, file the bond and file the commission (KRS 423.390(4)).
Is there a Kentucky notary exam?
KRS 423.390 sets no training or exam for a traditional commission.
Can I notarize in any Kentucky county?
Yes, once your commission, bond and oath are filed with the county clerk.
Does a Kentucky notary need a journal?
Only online notaries must keep one, an electronic journal kept 10 years. Paper-only notaries aren't required to, though a log is good evidence.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Kentucky sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Kentucky Secretary of State, and your county clerk before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any county clerk.