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BECOMING A NOTARY PUBLIC
A notary public is an officer of the State of Georgia who has the power and authority to:
- Witness or attest signatures or executions of deeds and other written instruments.
- Take acknowledgements.
- Administer oaths and affirmations.
- Witness affidavits
- Take verifications
- Make certified copies of documents
QUALIFICATIONS
To be eligible to become a notary public of the State of Georgia you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- A resident of Georgia
- A resident of Muscogee County
- A resident of a state bordering Georgia who carries on a business or profession in Muscogee County or who is regularly employed in Muscogee County.
- Able to read and write the English language.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A NOTARY PUBLIC APPOINTMENT
To apply for appointment as a notary public:
- You must complete the on-line application provided by the GSCCCA (Georgia Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority). Click here to start the on-line Notary Application process.
- The Clerk of Muscogee County Superior Court is M. Linda Pierce. See below information about contacting or locating the Clerk's office.
- You are required to sign and swear or affirm to the truthfulness of the information you provide on the application.
- In addition to the information shown above, you are required to state on the application form all criminal convictions you have had, except minor traffic violations.
- Endorsements of two persons who are not your relatives, who are at least 18 years old and who reside in Muscogee County, stating that you are a person of integrity, good moral character and capable of performing notarial acts.
- The application (or renewal) fee for a notary public is $30.00.
COMMISSION
- The Clerk of Muscogee County Superior Court is required by law to review your application and either grant or deny a commission.
- If granted, the Clerk will issue you a certificate of appointment at the time you are commissioned as a notary public.
- Upon issuing a certificate of appointment, the Clerk notifies the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, which will send you an official identification card showing you are a notary and the term of your appointment.
TERM OF OFFICE
A notary public serves a term of office for four years from the date of commission.
- The commission may be revoked at any time if a notary violates any notary public law, performs any illegal notarial act, or is found to have submitted an application or endorsement for a notarial comission containing substantial or significant mistatement of fact.
- Renewal of a commission may be done in person or by mail at the end of the term of office.
SEAL OF OFFICE
- For authentication of notarial acts, a notary public is required by law to provide a seal of office.
- The seal shall contain your name, the words "Notary Public", "Georgia", and "Muscogee County".
- The seal may either be an embossing device or a rubber stamp.
- All notarial acts must be documented by your notary seal.
FEES OF NOTARIES
The fees a notary may charge the public for performing notarial acts are:
- Administering an oath - $2.00
- Each attendance on any person to make proof as a notary public - $2.00
- Every other certification - $2.00
- It is not unlawful to charge more than $4.00 for each service performed. The $4.00 fee includes a $2.00 fee for performing the notarial act and $2.00 for attendance to make proof as a notary public and cetifying the same.
- A notary public is not required to charge fees for notarial acts.
- You must inform the person requesting the notarial act in advance of the fees that will be charged.
For more information concerning commissioning of notary publics, visit the Georgia Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority site at http://www.gsccca.org/Projects/aboutnp.asp.
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