How do I become a Notary Public?

A Notary Public is an official of integrity who is typically appointed by the secretary of state to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of fraud deterrent acts related to signing of important documents. Notaries are publicly known as “ministerial” officials, meaning that they are expected to abide by written rules without the use of significant personal discretion.

Duty of Notary Public
A Notary’s duty is to vet the signers of important documents. Such documents include property deeds, wills, and powers of attorney. The key things that Notaries screen for is making sure that the singer’s identity is true, that the singers are signing documents willingly and not under duress or intimidation, and that the signer is aware of the contents of the document or transaction. Additionally, some notarizations require the Notary to put the singer under an oath, declaring under penalty of perjury that the information in a document is true or correct.

Above all else impartiality is the foundation of the Notary’s public trust, as would otherwise be the case with a judicial official. They are duty bond to refrain from acting in situations where they have a personal interest. The public trusts that the Notary’s screening process has not been tainted by self-interest. Furthermore, impartiality dictates that a Notary never refuse to serve a person due to race, nationality, religion, politics, and sexual orientation.

Qualifications of Notary Public
There are specific qualifications laid out by the Department of the Secretary of State to become qualified for notarial commission. An applicant must meet all of the following qualifications:

• Must be at least eighteen years of age
• Reside in or have regular place of work or business in the state that they are applying for
• Reside legally in the United States
• Have full command of the English language by being able to speak, read, and write it.
• Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Pass the course of instruction, unless the person is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar.
• Purchase and keep as reference the most recent manual approved by the Secretary that describes the duties and authority of notaries public
• Submit an application containing no significant misstatements or omission of fact. Application must signed by the applicant in pen and ink.

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How to become a Notary Public
There are eight steps involved in becoming a Notary Public in North Carolina. An individual wishing to become a Notary Public must abide by each of the following steps:

1. Register to take the Notary Public Course at local community college
2. Obtain a North Carolina Notary Public Manual from local community college or from the school of government
3. Take the Notary Public Course and pass the notary public examination with a score of 80% or better.
4. Upon successful completion of notary course, complete the notary application and present it to notary instructor for their signature
5. Have the notary application notarized
6. Send the notarized application to the Department of Secretary of Sate along with registration fee.
7. Upon obtaining the Notary Oath Notification Letter from the Department of Secretary of Sate, take the oath at Register of Deeds Office in the county of your residence within forty days of Commission issue date.
8. Purchase a North Carolina notary seal.