How to Become a Notary Public in Arizona

There is a $43 fee to apply for a Notary Public commission in Arizona. Additional costs for bonds, Notary tools and education courses vary depending on vendors. There may be county fees for filing your bond, signature and commission.

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.

The Arizona Secretary of State recommends allowing three to four weeks for the processing of a Notary Public commission application. The Secretary of State's office reserves the right to request additional documentation or fees required for processing, which can make the overall process take more time.

Expedited service of one to two business days costs an additional $25. Make sure to write "EXPEDITE" on your envelope, so your application is processed promptly. Any application requiring further review, e.g. felony conviction, professional license action or past Notary complaint, cannot be expedited.

An Arizona Notary commission lasts four years.

A Notary Public applicant in Arizona must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be able to read and write English
• Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S.
• Be a legal resident of Arizona
• Not be convicted of a felony unless civil rights have been restored

Starting on June 30, 2022, applicants will no longer have the option to qualify for a commission if they are not legal residents of Arizona. The new law also states applicants convicted of a felony, but have had their civil rights restored, may qualify for a commission.

Arizona does not require training prior to getting a Notary commission. The state offers a Notary Public Reference Manual on its website for guidance.

There is no state-proctored exam required to become a Notary Public in Arizona.

Arizona Notaries must use a rubber stamp ink seal and journal for all notarial acts. You may not possess more than one official Notary seal at a time (ARS 41-321.B).

The seal can be in any shape no larger than 2.5" x 1.5". Round seals must be no larger than 1.5" in diameter. The following information should be on the seal:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public"
• The name of the county in which you're commissioned
• The Great Seal of the State of Arizona
• Your commission ID number
• Your commission expiration date

Seals should print in dark ink (black, dark blue, dark purple, dark green or dark brown). Red ink or ink not viewable on all copy or fax machines is unacceptable. Stamps should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause the county to reject documents due to smudging. An embosser may be used as a secondary impression but cannot serve as the Notary's only seal.

In addition to a Notary seal, you're required to get a Notary journal. The journal must be in a paper form and list the notarial acts in chronological order. For the utmost protection, you should consider getting a permanently bound journal since they're more difficult to remove or lose than loose-leaf pages.

Depending on the types and quantity of notarizations being performed, different tools of the trade may be recommended.

Arizona Notaries are required to purchase a $5,000 surety bond from an authorized company to protect signers against financial damages resulting from the Notary's negligence or misconduct. A surety bond is a financial guarantee that the Notary will fulfill their obligations to notarize in compliance with state laws. This Notary bond specifically protects the public and not the Notary. Any damages paid from the bond go to cover any signer's losses and must be paid back to the surety company by you, the Notary.

Notaries can insure themselves against possible legal costs or damages by purchasing a separate, optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy. Though not required by law, an E&O policy covers a Notary's legal fees and damages up to the amount of the policy.

The Arizona Office of the Secretary of State, Notary Section, located in Phoenix, AZ, holds all records of Notaries Public, and records are available to be viewed by the general public.

Yes. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to become an Arizona Notary Public. You must, however, be a legal resident of the state and meet all other application requirements.

An Arizona Notary can perform notarial acts anywhere within the state's borders.

Any member of the public, as long as the request meets all statutory requirements for notarization. Notaries are prohibited from notarizing their own signatures and for anyone related to them by marriage or adoption. In addition, you may not notarize a document in which you will receive a direct material benefit.

In Arizona, Notaries can charge up to $10 per Notary signature. Notaries are not required to charge a fee, but those who choose to do so must use that same fee for each notarization. You can charge a travel mileage fee if you travel a distance to perform a notarization. The Department of Administration determines the mileage fee through its General Accounting Office.

If you charge a fee for your services, you must post your fee schedule in a specific format and in a conspicuous location.

You must notify the Secretary of State of any address or name change by submitting a completed Notary Public Address/Name Change Notification form or reporting the change on the AZ SOS website. Failure to do so may result in a $25 civil penalty. To avoid paying the penalty for an address change, update all of your addresses in the form and notify the Secretary within 30 days of the change. For a name change, include legal documentation (marriage license, divorce decree, etc.) with your form.

The process to renew an Arizona Notary Public commission is the same as the new Notary application process. You must continue to meet the qualifications listed above. Also, you cannot start the process until 60 days before your current commission expires.

Electronic notarizations differ from traditional notarizations in that they involve digital documents and electronic signatures. The notarial act is still performed in person with the signer personally appearing before the Notary.

To become an eNotary in Arizona, you must first hold an active commission as a traditional Notary Public. Then, you’re required to read the Electronic Notary Rules. Next, contract with a technology provider from the state’s list of approved vendors. Complete the application and indicate the vendor you intend to use.

Remote online notarization has been allowed in Arizona since April 10, 2020. To apply for your remote authorization, you must first have a traditional Notary Public commission. This step-by-step guide will help you become an AZ remote Notary.

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