Georgia Notary Public Handbook PDF: Training, Fees, and Renewal

The Georgia Notary Public Handbook is the official reference on Georgia notary law and practice, published by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) with the American Society of Notaries; the current version is the 14th edition.¹ The GSCCCA does not publish it as a free PDF. To get a copy, order the print handbook through the GSCCCA’s online order system for $10 plus a small credit card processing fee, with delivery in about 10 days.²

The handbook covers Georgia notary law, procedures, best practices, forms, and definitions in one place.³ It doesn’t replace the statutes, but it translates them into practical guidance for the four years of your commission. The rest of this article walks through what the handbook addresses, so you know what you’re getting and what the rules actually require.

Mandatory Training Before You Apply or Renew

Since January 1, 2025, every Georgia notary applicant must complete an approved educational training course before receiving a commission. The requirement applies to first-time applicants and to anyone renewing.⁴ The course is available online through the GSCCCA e-learning portal at elearn.gsccca.org. For renewals, training must be completed within the 30 days before your renewal appointment, and you’ll need to bring the certificate of completion with your application.⁵

Who Qualifies for a Georgia Notary Commission

To apply, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident, a legal resident of the county where you apply, able to read and write English, and reachable at a working telephone number. These requirements come from O.C.G.A. § 45-17-2.⁶

There is a narrow exception for residents of states bordering Georgia who regularly work or run a business in Georgia. They apply through the clerk of superior court in the county where they work and must meet every other qualification.⁷

First-time applicants also need endorsements from two people who are not relatives, are at least 18, live in the same county where the application is filed, and have known the applicant for at least one month.⁸

How the Application Works

File your application with the clerk of superior court in your county of residence, or your county of employment if you qualify under the bordering-state exception.⁸ Some counties accept online applications through the GSCCCA website; others don’t. If yours isn’t listed in the online system, contact the clerk’s office for a paper form.⁹

The application asks for your residential address, a working phone number, any prior denial, revocation, or resignation of a notary commission, and all criminal convictions other than minor traffic violations.⁸¹⁰⁵ Application fees are set by each county, so confirm the amount with your clerk’s office before you go.

Your Seal and How You Sign

Every Georgia notary must have a seal of office that includes four things: your name, the words “Notary Public,” the county of appointment, and “Georgia” or “State of Georgia.” A rubber stamp meets the requirement. An embosser is allowed but not mandatory.¹¹

When you perform a notarial act, sign the certificate in ink using exactly the name on your commission and record the date of the act. Documents related to real property are the one exception where the date is not required.¹¹ The clerk will give you a duplicate of your certificate of appointment to show a seal supplier when you order your stamp.

What Georgia Notaries Can and Can’t Do

A Georgia commission carries statewide authority; you aren’t limited to your county of appointment. The acts you can perform anywhere in the state include:

Attesting to the signing of deeds and other written instruments.
Taking acknowledgments that a signer appeared before you and signed voluntarily.
Administering oaths and affirmations related to your duties as a commercial officer, plus other oaths not reserved to a specific official.
Witnessing affidavits and taking verifications under oath.
Certifying copies of an original document made under your supervision, unless the document is a public record already available from another official source.

These acts are drawn from the GSCCCA’s summary of Georgia notary law.¹¹ Notaries in Georgia cannot give legal advice or prepare legal documents for others. Notarizing is a verification of identity and willingness, not an endorsement of what the document says.

Fees You Can Charge

Georgia caps notary fees at $2 per notarial act. If you also attend and certify proof as a notary, you can charge an additional $2 for that certification, for a maximum of $4 on a single service. Charging more is illegal.¹²

Bond and Insurance

Georgia does not require notaries to carry a surety bond.³ Errors and omissions insurance is optional and something you’d arrange on your own; the handbook and state law don’t require it.

Penalties for Violations

Performing notarial acts outside the rules is a criminal offense. A first or second conviction is a misdemeanor. A third or subsequent conviction is a felony, punishable by one to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.¹³ Notarizing after your commission has expired, notarizing without proper identification of the signer, or skipping required steps all fall within reach of that statute.

Renewing Your Commission

Commissions last four years and do not renew automatically. You file a new application with the same county clerk’s office, meet the same residency and eligibility requirements, and complete the mandatory training within 30 days before your renewal appointment.⁵ Renewal applications are typically accepted up to 30 days before your term expires. Some counties take renewals by mail; check with your clerk rather than assuming.³

If your commission lapses before you renew, you have no authority to perform notarial acts in the gap. Anything you notarize during that time is open to challenge, and the criminal penalties above apply. Put the expiration date on your calendar and start the renewal, including the training, well before it hits.

1
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Georgia Notary Files and Forms
2
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Notary Handbook Order System
3
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. General Notary Information
4
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Notary Public Education Rules
5
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Notary Public Application
6
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-2 – Qualifications of Notaries
7
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-7 – Commissioning of Nonresidents
8
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-2.1 – Application to Be a Notary – Endorsements and Declarations
9
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Notary Online Commissions
10
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-3 – Oath of Office
11
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Georgia Notary Law
12
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-11 – Fees of Notaries
13
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-20 – Penalty – Prosecution of Violations of Article