How to Become a Notary Public in Alaska

The state application filing fee is $40 unless you are applying for a Limited Governmental commission (your fee is waived). The cost of your bond, seal and optional journal will vary based on the vendor you choose.

The cost of commissioning can differ depending on whether you are a new or renewing Notary. Supply package prices vary among vendors. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. Books, training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries.

Some vendors may package items with additional fees — processing fees for example. Training can be included in package prices for new Notaries, although the quality of education can vary. Some providers offer their own Notary courses while others do not have the on-staff expertise to develop and support educational content. Several vendors offer Notaries live question and answer support, and others are not able to offer such assistance.

It can take up to four weeks to become a commissioned Notary Public in Alaska. Allow time for yourself to follow the registration process and the Office of Lt. Governor to process your application.

Alaska Notaries are commissioned for four years.

There are basic qualifications for a person to become a Notary in Alaska. All applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a legal U.S. resident
• Be a resident of Alaska for at least 30 days with the intent to remain indefinitely
• Not have been convicted or incarcerated for a felony in the 10 years before their commission takes effect
• Not have had their commission revoked for failure to obey the law, incompetence or malfeasance in the past 10 years

No training or exam is required for Alaska Notaries.

A Notary seal is required. It must be an inked stamp or an embosser with an inker so the seal can be photocopied. The seal must contain:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public"
• The words "State of Alaska"

The shape of the seal may be a circle no larger than 2" in diameter, a rectangle no larger than 1" x 2.5" or an electronic form as authorized by regulations adopted by the Lieutenant Governor.

When shopping for seal stamps, quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Stamps should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause county officials to reject documents due to smudging. A second seal can help you avoid downtime if your seal is ever misplaced, and an embosser can help add an additional layer of fraud prevention security.

While a Notary journal is not required by law for paper notarizations, Alaska considers it a best practice for Notaries to use a Notary record book. When purchasing a journal, there are a few important features to which you must pay close attention. A journal with numbered pages and tamper-proof sewn construction allows Notaries to identify missing pages in their journals, which becomes extremely helpful if you're ever named in a lawsuit. Simple notebooks or glue-bound journals simply do not offer the same level of security.

Supplies are sold by most vendors in packages, which can sometimes provide savings. However, not all vendor packages are created equal — they can vary greatly in terms of quality and content. If you are a new Notary or renewing your commission, the types and quantity of notarizations can require different tools of the trade.

Yes. Applicants applying for a new commission or renewing their commissions are required to get a four-year $2,500 bond. A bond protects the public, so many Notaries also choose to get an errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to protect themselves from legal expenses. E&O insurance is not a requirement in Alaska.

The Notary Office of the Office of Lieutenant Governor in Juneau, AK, issues Notary Public commissions.

You can find several reputable Notary Public training providers with a quick online search. It's important to note that the Secretary of State does not provide workshops or seminars, nor does the Secretary endorse any business that advertises Notary Public training. Since the Secretary of State doesn't have jurisdiction to take action regarding a business that offers Notary training, make sure you thoroughly review any company you plan to work with.

You can notarize documents for any signer physically located within the state's borders.

You can notarize for everyone, excluding yourself. You cannot notarize your own signature, nor can you notarize documents you are named in or would benefit from. Alaska law doesn't specifically prohibit notarizing for a spouse or relative or for a spouse's business. If you perform notarizations as part of your employment, your employer may limit the notarizations you perform during your work hours.

In Alaska, Notaries may charge a reasonable fee for notarizations. It's recommended to inform signers of your fees prior to performing a notarial act.

You must notify the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of any address or name change within 30 days of the change. Complete the Name and Address Change Form and submit it to the office.

For name changes, you'll be required to pay a fee to receive a new certificate of commission. Until you receive your new commission and seal, you're required to use your former name for all notarial acts.

The process to renew your Notary Public commission is the same as if you're applying for the first time. If you'd like to keep the same expiration month and day, submit your application 30 days before your commission expires. Applications submitted earlier than that will be held until 30 days prior to your commission expiration date.

Starting on January 1, 2021, Alaska Notaries can apply to perform remote online notarizations (RONs). Remote Notaries must keep a journal of all notarial acts for remotely located signers. After getting your traditional Notary Public commission, you can follow these steps to become an AK remote Notary.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.