Notary Public Commission Information

A notary public is a person of proven integrity appointed by a Clerk of Superior Court to serve the public as an impartial witness in taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, and performing other acts authorized by law. Notaries are required to follow simple instructions and exercise common sense judgment and discretion when executing their office.

Notarization does not guarantee the truth or accuracy of statements in a document. The notary has no obligation to verify a document’s content or to indicate he/she has knowledge of the contents of the document or of the copy certified. Notarization does not legalize or validate a document. A document with errors before notarization will contain the same errors afterwards.

In order to be appointed as a Notary Public in the County of Clayton, you must:

1. Be a resident of Georgia.
2. Be a resident of Clayton County.
3. Be at least 18 years of age.
4. Be capable of reading and writing the English language.

1. You must complete an online application for Notary Public Commission. Click here to complete a copy of the application for notary public commission.
2. Fill out the form completely – including any criminal convictions (with the exception of minor traffic offenses) you have had. Do Not sign application. Application must be signed in front of clerk’s office employee.
3. Have two other residents of Clayton County who are not related to you and are at least 18 years of age to fill out the endorsement sections of the applications attesting to your good moral character.
4. Applicants must include a criminal background check, no more than 30 days old, performed by a local law enforcement agency, with their application.
5. Applicants must complete the online notary training and exam as well as pass with a score of 90% or above (available at https://elearn.gsccca.org). There is a $2.00 fee associated with the exam. A copy of the notary exam certificate of completion, with a score of 90% or higher should be brought in with the application.
6. Present the notary public commission application in person to the Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court’s office along with verification of your Clayton County residency (i.e. valid Georgia driver’s license with current Clayton County address or State of Georgia ID card with current Clayton County address).
7. The fee is $53.00. Forms of payment accepted: cash or money order payable to Chanae Q. Clemons, Clerk or Visa or Mastercard.

The Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court’s office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding county-recognized holidays). Click here for a schedule of county-recognized holidays. No appointment is necessary.

You will receive a certificate of appointment from the Clerk’s office. You may then go to any office supply store and purchase your notary stamp and seal. Most notaries choose a stamp/seal combination (which is a rubber stamp) rather than an embossing seal and a separate rubber stamp listing your commission appointment term.

A notary commission in the State of Georgia is four (4) years.

Whether you move to another county or stay within Clayton County, your commission will still be registered through Clayton County for the entire four years. You must notify the Clerk’s office (with a copy to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Authority, 1875 Century Blvd., Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30345, (404) 327-6023 or (404)327-9058) of your change of address. Be sure to include your name, your commission dates, your old address and your new address.

If your name legally changes during your commission term, you must appear in person at the Clayton County Clerk’s office. You must present a letter which includes your old name, the new name and the dates of your commission along with proof of legal name change. The Clerk of Superior Court will prepare an amended certificate to you with your new name. You may then take that certificate to any office supply store and purchase a new seal and stamp. Once these steps have been completed, you may begin signing with your new name.

The American Society of Notaries has published a Georgia Notary Handbook which is available through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority for a cost of $10.00 https://www.gsccca.org/notary-and-apostilles/notaries/general-notary-information. The handbook contains information on Basic Notary Guidelines, Notarial Fees to which you are entitled, Recordkeeping, Notarial Acts, Responsibilities of a Notary Public and a Reference Guide among other subjects.

An online training course is available through GSCCCA at https://elearn.gsccca.org.

For additional information concerning Notary Public Commissions, please visit the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority at http://www.gsccca.org/Projects/aboutnp.asp.

Follow the new online renewal instructions at http://www.gsccca.org/Projects/npapp.asp and renew completely online and pay by credit card.

or

1. Complete an online application at http://www.gsccca.org/Projects/npapp.asp.
2. Applicants must include a criminal background check, no more than 30 days old, performed by a local law enforcement agency, with their application.
3. Applicants must complete the online notary training and exam as well as pass with a score of 90% or above (available at https://elearn.gsccca.org). There is a $2.00 fee associated with the exam. A copy of the notary exam certificate of completion, with a score of 90% or higher should be brought in with the application.
4. Present the notary public commission application in person to the Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court’s office along with verification of your Clayton County residency (i.e. valid Georgia driver’s license with current Clayton County address or State of Georgia ID card with current Clayton County address).
5. The fee is $49.00. Forms of payment accepted: cash or money order payable to Chane Q. Clemons, Clerk, or Visa or Mastercard.

Once your commission has expired, you will need to apply as if it were your first time to apply.

Use the following form if you wish to file a complaint.

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