Updated 5-9-23. If you have a question about notarizing but don't know where to find the answer, try these helpful resources:
- Your Notary commissioning office
- Local Notary training courses
- NNA resources and videos
Your Notary commissioning office
The Notary commissioning agencies in many states — usually the Secretary of State’s office — provide guidelines, at no charge, to state-commissioned Notaries. These resources usually can be found on the commissioning agency’s website.
Many commissioning agencies publish a handbook for Notaries, which may describe in detail the duties a Notary may or may not perform, provides sample Notary certificate wording, explains the appropriate steps for notarizations, and lists the fees a Notary may charge.
This is also where you’re likely to find information for reporting a name or address change, an explanation of how your state handles apostilles, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Some states have systems in place to alert Notaries of Notary law changes or clarifications. In California, for example, there is the California Secretary of State's Notary newsletter, which is updated periodically. If your state doesn’t offer a similar service, you can either consult your state website for law information or check out the NNA’s state-specific Notary Law Updates.
Local Notary training courses
Many states, such as Texas, Montana, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, Florida and Oregon provide free or low-cost Notary education resources. These courses often are designed for new or renewing Notaries, and generally cover state laws and Notary basics.
In some states, such as Alabama and South Carolina, the Notary commissioning agencies have organized seminars and conferences to help educate Notaries. You’ll need to visit your commissioning agency’s website to see if there are any educational events scheduled.
If your state doesn’t offer training, there are other options.
Depending on your state or location, find courses available through your local community college. For example, Prince George’s Community College in Maryland offers a Notary course.
Daniel Lewis of Carmel, Indiana, NNA 2010 Notary of the Year and owner of Lewis Signing Services, provides state-approved continuing education courses for Notary Signing Agents in Indiana who need title insurance producer licenses.
To find the right training option for you, do a web search for local courses.
National Notary Association resources and videos
The NNA provides resources designed for both new and experienced Notaries and Signing Agents, many of which are available free of charge.
Publications: The NNA’s online The National Notary Bulletin provides an in-depth discussion of Notary-related topics, including how to perform various types of notarizations, tips for building a successful Notary business, current Notary trends and other Notary issues.
Website Tutorials and YouTube Videos: Detailed online tutorials walk Notaries through administering oaths, correcting certificates, determining if a signer’s ID is acceptable, fixing a bad seal impression and more. NNA Notary training videos on YouTube include how to perform an acknowledgment, spotting fraudulent ID, avoiding disqualifying interest and other helpful tutorials.
NNA Reference Library: This useful online resource library includes links to publications including the Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility, the Model Notary Act, and the U.S. Notary Reference Manual (accessible to members only). NNA members can also download certificate forms from this page.
New Law Updates: The New Notary Laws section online allows you to look up the latest rules and legislation enacted in any state. The updates include a summary of each new law or rule along with the actual text.
Notary Handbooks: A variety of Notary handbooks are available for purchase in our online store. State-specific Notary law primers are just a few of the Notary supplies you will find on the NNA website.
NNA Hotline: For questions requiring immediate answers, you can call the NNA Hotline and speak directly to a Notary expert. This service is free to NNA members, or Notaries who get their commission through the NNA.
Notary Essentials: If you want to brush up on the elements of performing a notarization, you can take the NNA’s Notary Essentials course. It presents real-life scenarios and is state-specific, so the information is tailored to the Notary requirements in your state.
Remote Online Notarization: The NNA's online Knowledge Center also has information on how to become a remote online Notary and perform remote online notarizations in various states that authorize RON.