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How to Become a Notary In NY
Whether you want to get your notary license for the first time or start your own notarization business in New York—you’ve come to the right place.
The process of becoming a notary in New York is a fairly straightforward process, all it takes is a little bit of know-how.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about becoming a New York notary, including:
- Who is eligible to become a notary in New York.
- Which steps to follow to get your notary license.
- What kind of training is required to qualify as a NY notary.
General Information
Before You Begin
Before you submit your application to become a notary in New York, it’s important to be aware of what the process entails, as well as what your responsibilities could be.
What are the responsibilities of a notary public?
Notaries are appointed by the Secretary of State to take statements from the public, witness the signing of documents and certify that the contents are correct.
These duties are performed to prevent fraud and are often called notarizations or notarial acts. If you become a notary, you will also be responsible for:
- Issuing oaths and affirmations.
- Accepting depositions and affidavits.
- Certifying powers of attorney, deeds, mortgages.
How do I become a New York notary public?
The first step toward becoming a notary in New York is meeting the state’s eligibility requirements—we discuss this in more detail in the section below.
You will need to study New York’s Notary Public License Law and pass the one-hour NYS Notary Public Examination with a score of at least 70%. Once you’ve got confirmation that you’ve passed the exam, you will be sent a test pass slip in the mail. Together with your test pass slip, you will need to submit a completed state application, a $60 filing fee and a notarized copy of your oath of office.
The Secretary of State will submit these documents to the county clerk. Within four to six weeks, you should receive your notary identification card in the mail.
How much will it cost to become a New York notary?
There are a few different costs associated with becoming a notary in New York. This includes:
- A $60 application fee.
- $15 to take the written exam.
- $95 for an annual background screening at the office of the court.
It’s important to note that these fees must only be paid via check or money order. If a check is returned by your bank, you will be charged a $20 penalty. You may also choose to invest in notary education, seals and a journal. The cost of these items will depend on the vendor you choose.
Some New York notaries also choose to purchase errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for their own legal and financial protection. On average, this costs about $65 per month.
Can I become a New York notary if I live in a different state?
As long as you have an office or a place of business in the state of New York, you’ll be able to be commissioned as a notary.
Requirements
In the section below, we outline all of the requirements applicants will need to meet before qualifying as notaries in New York.
Who is eligible to become a New York notary?
In order to meet the state’s requirements and become a notary in New York, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old on the application date.
- Have the equivalent of a common school education.
- Be a citizen or legal permanent resident in the United States.
- Live in the state of New York or have a place of business in New York.
- Be a person of good moral character.
- Not have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors in New York or any other state or territory.
- Pass the Notary Public Examination.
Exam Requirements
What kind of training will I need to become a notary in NY?
The state of New York does not require prospective notaries to take any formal training courses. Rather, it’s the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they study and understand the Notary Public License Law to pass the notary exam. Although training is not required, specialized courses can help you prepare and feel more confident for the notary exam.
At Notary Learn, we offer high-quality coursework and practice exams to help you avoid common mistakes and pass on your first try.
Will I have to take an exam to become a notary?
Anyone who wants to become a notary in New York will need to pass a one-hour, multiple-choice exam that is based on the Notary Public License Law.
The exam is closed-book and the testing schedules are typically posted on the Department of State’s website in January and July of each year.
Your examination results will only be valid for two years after taking the New York notary exam.
You are exempt from taking the notary exam if you are a current member of the New York State Bar Association or court clerk of the Unified Court System—and have passed the civil service promotional examination.
Similarly, if you already have a notary license in New York, you will not be required to take or pass the exam again.
Where do I take the New York notary exam?
The notary exam is held at various centers throughout the state of New York. You can take the exam in the following cities:
- Albany.
- Binghamton.
- Buffalo.
- Franklin Square.
- Hauppauge.
- New York City.
- Plattsburgh.
- Rochester.
- Syracuse.
- Utica.
You will be able to register for the exam, provide your thumbprints and pay the testing fee on the day of the exam.
More information about the exam’s testing schedules and instructions can be found on the Division of Licensing Services website.
Important Details
How long does it take to become a notary in NY?
The process of becoming a notary agent will largely depend on how long it takes for you to study the material and pass the exam.
If you enroll into a notary education program, it may take you a few weeks to complete the coursework—depending on the pace of the classes and your learning style.
Once you feel confident that you know the material well enough, the NYS notary exam will only take you one hour.
After submitting your filing fee and application, the state usually takes between four to six weeks to approve the documentation and commission applicants as notaries.
Other Important Details
How long does a NY notary commission usually last?
Once you qualify as a notary in New York, your term will last for four years and begin on the date specified in the notary public commission.
There are a few reasons why a notary’s commission may end prematurely. This could be due to:
- Revocation.
- Resignation
- Death.
- The notary moving outside of New York.
- A non-resident notary losing their place of business in New York.
- The notary being convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.
Who will I be able to notarize documents for?
When you become a notary, you will be able to notarize any member of the public (excluding yourself) who presents you with an acceptable form of identification.
The most commonly accepted forms of ID include:
- U.S passports issued by the U.S Department of State.
- State-issued driver’s licenses.
- State-issued identification cards.
- U.S military ID.
- State, country and local government IDs.
It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your state’s law on acceptable identification, as some regions have different requirements.
While there is no law that prohibits notaries from performing their duties for family members, it could be investigated if the individual is found to benefit from the transaction.
Do I need a surety bond?
A surety bond is a legally binding contract that holds notaries monetarily liable for any mistakes they make while they perform notarial acts.
Although New York does not require notaries to have surety bonds, they are required in the following states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
If you decide to purchase a notary surety bond, it can be obtained from licensed insurance or notary bond companies.
Some notaries choose to get an E&O insurance policy to protect their businesses from legal liability in the event of an investigation or audit.
Will I need any supplies to perform notarizations?
In order to conduct your duties effectively, you will need a few notary supplies. Despite it not being a requirement in New York, it’s considered best practice to use a notary stamp (also known as a notary seal) or journal.
On your notary stamp, it’s a good idea to include the following information:
- Your full name as it is presented on your commission certificate.
- The county where you qualified as a notary.
- The phrase, “Notary Public for the State of New York”.
- The date your commission term comes to an end.
Including this information on your notary seals will authenticate your signature and ensure that your notarizations are official.
Not only will a journal help you keep track of your notarizations, but it will also serve as a record if your duties are ever challenged in court or if a notarized document gets lost.
How do I renew my New York notary commission?
When you renew your notary commission every four years, the process will be taken care of by your local county clerk’s office. You will be mailed a renewal form about 12 weeks before your commission expiration date.
After you have paid a $60 renewal fee and sent the appropriate county clerk your renewal form, you should receive an updated identification card about six to eight weeks later.
Frequently Asked Questions
To become a notary in New York, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old on the application date.
- Have the equivalent of a common school education.
- Be a citizen or legal permanent resident in the United States.
- Live in the state of New York or have a place of business in New York.
- Be a person of good moral character.
- Not have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors in New York or any other state or territory.
- Pass the Notary Public Examination.
There are a few costs you will need to cover before becoming a notary in the state of New York. This includes:
- A $60 application fee.
- $15 to take the written exam.
- $95 for an annual background screening at the office of the court.
- $65 (on average) for optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.
These fees must only be paid via check or money order. If a check is returned by your bank, you will be charged a $20 penalty.
You may decide to enroll in a notary training course or purchase stamps and a notary journal. These costs will depend on the vendor you choose.
To become a New York notary, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Fulfill the state’s eligibility requirements.
- Study New York’s Notary Public License Law.
- Pass the one-hour, NYS Notary Public Examination with a score of at least 70%.
- Receive a test pass slip in the mail.
- Complete the state’s application and include a notarized oath of office.
- Submit your application with a $60 fee and your official test pass slip.
- Receive an identification card from the New York state department.
It will take about four to six weeks for your notary application to be processed and approved.
However, the entire process may take longer depending on how much time you need to study and pass the New York state notary examination.
You will need to send your notary application to the NYS department, Division of Licensing Services in Albany.
Once the secretary of state approves your notary application, your commission, oath and signature will be sent to the county clerk to authorize your commission.
If you need to get in touch with the secretary of state, you can find their contact details on the official website.
As stipulated by Executive Law, notaries are only allowed to charge a maximum of $2 for their notarial acts. This includes:
- Oaths or affirmations.
- Swearing a witness.
- Acknowledgements.
- Jurats.
- Protests.
It’s also important to note that a notary may not charge a fee for administering an oath of office to any military or public officer.
The notary exam in the state of New York is considered to be one of the most challenging. This is because applicants must pass the exam with a score of at least 70%.
However, with the right preparation and practice exams, you’ll feel more confident that you’ve covered everything you need to know in order to pass on your first try.
If you want to become a notary in New York, you will need to pass an annual background check to ensure that you don’t have a criminal record. This costs approximately $95 at the office of court administration.
There are 40 questions on the New York notary exam. They are multiple-choice and will need to be completed in one hour.
Non-residents can become notaries in New York as long as they meet the state’s requirements or have a place of business in the state.
If your name or address changes, you will need to notify the Division of Licensing Services of the change, complete a Change Notice form and submit a $10 fee.
Once it’s received, the division will correct the public record to your updated address or name.
You will be allowed to continue using your former name until your commission expires.
If you need to change your name on your current commission, you will need to submit the following as proof:
- A marriage certificate.
- A driver’s license.
- A valid U.S. passport.
Prospective notaries in New York don’t need to complete any specific training courses. All you need to do is study and understand the Notary Public License Law.
Although you don’t need to complete a notary education program, doing so can help you prepare more effectively for the exam.
Many of these courses can help you get a better idea of what will be asked on the notary exam, as well as provide you with tips to ensure a passing score.