How to Become a Notary in DeKalb County, Georgia

To become a notary in DeKalb County, Georgia, you complete a free online training course through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA), submit an application with two endorsers and a $54 fee to the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court, and take an oath of office. The clerk must approve or deny your application within ten days of receiving a complete packet.¹

Who Qualifies

You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, able to read and write English, and a legal resident of DeKalb County.²

If you live in a bordering state but work in DeKalb County, you can still apply through the county where you work.³

The clerk has discretion to deny an application based on your criminal history, a prior revocation or suspension of a notary commission or professional license, or a finding that you engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.¹

Step 1: Finish the Training Course

As of January 1, 2025, every applicant for a new or renewed Georgia notary commission must complete an educational training course before applying. The course covers Georgia notary law and basic procedures. It is free and offered online through the GSCCCA.⁴

When you finish, print the Certificate of Completion. It goes in your application packet, and the DeKalb clerk will not process your application without it.⁵

Step 2: Fill Out the Application and Line Up Two Endorsers

Start the application through the GSCCCA notary application portal. Select DeKalb County, choose “New Application,” complete the required fields, and print the form. You’ll provide your full legal name, residential and mailing addresses, phone, email, and date of birth.⁵

You need two endorsers. Each must be at least 18, a DeKalb County resident, unrelated to you in any way, and someone who has known you for more than 30 days. Both sign a separate endorsement page that you include with your packet.⁵

Then gather proof of DeKalb County residency. Acceptable documents are a current Georgia driver’s license, a Georgia state-issued ID card, a voter identification card, or a DeKalb gun permit license. The address on the document has to match the address on your application. P.O. boxes are not accepted.⁵

Step 3: Submit the Packet and Pay the Fee

Bring or mail your completed packet to the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court at 556 N. McDonough Street, Suite G-50, Decatur, GA 30030. The packet includes the printed application, the signed endorsement page, your proof of residency, and your training Certificate of Completion.⁵

The fee is $54. The clerk accepts cash, business check, money order, or credit or debit card. Card payments carry a surcharge of 2% plus $1.00. Personal checks are not accepted.⁵

Once the packet is complete, Georgia law gives the clerk ten days to grant or deny the commission.¹

Step 4: Take the Oath of Office

After approval, you take an oath before the clerk of superior court. You swear or affirm that you will faithfully perform the duties of a notary public and that you are not holding unaccounted public funds belonging to the state.⁶

If you applied by mail, DeKalb County offers a Zoom option for the swearing-in. The clerk’s office will contact you to schedule the virtual ceremony after processing your materials.⁵

After the oath, the clerk issues your official commission certificate. Your commission is valid for four years from the date of issuance, and the clerk can revoke it for cause at any time during that period.⁷

Step 5: Order Your Notary Seal

You cannot perform any notarial act without a seal. You can use a traditional metal embosser or a rubber ink stamp. Georgia law requires the seal to show your name, the words “Notary Public,” the state name “Georgia,” and your county of appointment (DeKalb County).⁸

To order one, present the duplicate original of your commission certificate to the vendor. It is illegal for a supplier to sell a seal without seeing that document, and illegal for anyone who is not a commissioned notary to order one.⁸

Renewing Every Four Years

Your commission lasts four years. To renew, retake the GSCCCA training course (it must be completed within 30 days before you submit the renewal), file a renewal application, pay the fee, and take the oath again.⁴

If your existing seal still matches your new commission exactly — same name, same county — you can keep using it. Contact the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court to confirm whether mail-in renewal is available for your situation, as procedures can vary.⁴

1
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-2.3 – Grant or Denial of Commission
2
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-2 – Qualifications of Notaries
3
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-7 – Commissioning of Nonresidents
4
Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. General Notary Information
5
DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court. Notary
6
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-3 – Oath of Office
7
Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-5 – Term of Office and Revocation
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Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-6 – Seal of Office