How to Become a Notary Public in Illinois

The filing fee for an Illinois Notary application is $15. The cost of your bond, seal and journal will vary based on the services you provide to the public and the vendor you choose to buy your supplies from. Be sure to check the fine print and product quality before buying your supplies. Some vendors may package items with additional or hidden fees — processing fees for example.

Starting on January 1, 2024, there are some additional expenses to consider including the 3-hour state-required Notary class, exam and journal. New Notaries may need more assistance than experienced Notaries. Training courses, books and live expert assistance are often must-haves for new Notaries who are learning how to perform their duties.

It can take five to eight weeks for the state to issue your Notary commission.

The term of an Illinois Notary commission is four years.

There are several qualifications for a person to become an Illinois Notary. You must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a citizen of or lawful permanent resident in the U.S.
• Live or work in Illinois for a minimum of 30 days prior to applying
• Be able to read and write in English
• Not be convicted of a felony
• Not have a previous Notary commission revoked

Training is not required for Illinois Notaries but, as with anything new and unfamiliar, it's a good idea to take a course that will help you fully understand how to properly perform your important duties.

Effective January 1, 2024, anyone applying for commission in Illinois is required to take a 3-hour Notary Training Course. You'll be required to submit a proof of completion certificate.

No, applicants do not need to take an exam to become a Notary Public in Illinois.

Effective January 1, 2024, anyone applying for commission in Illinois is required to pass a 50-question exam with a score of at least 85%.

In Illinois, Notaries are required to use a Notary seal stamp. The seal should be in a rectangular form no larger than 1" in height by 2.5" in length with a serrated or milled edge border. The following information should be within the border:

• The words "Official Seal"
• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public, State of Illinois"
• The words "Commission No. _________(your number)"
• The words "My Commission Expires _______ (date)"

Stamps should not bleed during or after use. Ask the vendor you choose about product guarantees because quality and durability can vary greatly.

A Notary journal or record book is required. It's recommended as a best practice to record all notarizations in your journal. The journal may be paper or electronic, and more than one journal may be used. When you're deciding which journal to buy, look for security features like tamper-proof sewn binding.

Notaries in Illinois are required by law to purchase a $5,000 four-year surety bond from a company qualified to write bonds in the state. A bond is not insurance. A bond is a financial guarantee from a bonding company to those who rely on a Notary and experience financial damages because a Notary intentionally or unintentionally violated a law. If damages are paid out from the bond, you will need to repay your surety company.

Notaries in Illinois who perform remote notarization will need a $30,000 four-year surety bond from a company qualified to write bonds in the state.

Since a surety bond does not protect the Notary, many Notaries choose to purchase optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policies to protect themselves from legal expenses. E&O insurance is not a requirement in Illinois.

The Illinois Secretary of State, located in Springfield, IL, issues Notary Public commissions.

You can find several Notary Public training options online, including the NNA's Notary Essentials course. Online training can be convenient and can do an excellent job of preparing you for your new responsibilities. It's important to thoroughly review any company you plan to work with, as some have courses developed by on-staff Notary experts and some simply consist of information pulled from other, more authoritative, sources.

You will be able to notarize anywhere in the state of Illinois.

You can notarize documents for everyone who presents acceptable identification, excluding yourself.

Illinois law doesn't specifically prohibit notarizing for family members, but you can't notarize documents you are named in or would benefit from. You can't notarize for someone you know is adjudged mentally ill or for a blind person unless you read the document to them. You can't notarize for people who don't understand English unless the document being notarized is translated into a language they do understand.

Illinois sets the maximum fee Notaries can charge per notarial act at $5.

If you change your name, email address or if you move to a new place within the same county, complete the Notary Public Change of Address or Employer form and submit it to the Secretary of State within 30 days.

If you change the county in which you reside you'll need to apply for a new commission to continue serving as a Notary Public.

Failing to properly identify a person, failing to administer an oath or affirmation, and failing to affix the Notary seal are the most common oversights made by both new and experienced Notaries.

It depends. Even the most careful and detail-oriented people can make mistakes. As a Notary Public, you handle documents that are central to important transactions. Any mistake you make or misconduct you engage in could be very costly for everyone involved. But you can be sued even if you've done nothing wrong, and lawsuits can be expensive. If you are diligent in following the law and keep thorough records, you'll be better prepared for any legal action that comes your way.

Prior to your commission expiration date, the state will mail you a notice with a new application and bond form. You must maintain your surety bond and buy a new Notary seal with your updated commission expiration date. It's strongly recommended that you begin the process 30 to 60 days ahead of time to avoid gaps in your commission.

While the new laws took effect June 5, 2023, you won't be able to apply for an Electronic Notary Public commission until the Secretary creates an application process, the training, an exam, and approves notarization technology providers. The rules say that this will happen on January 1, 2024. We'll also update this information as we learn more.

You'll need to buy a $25,000 surety bond, take the required course, pass an exam, and purchase your digital Notary supplies like your eSeal and digital certificate.

Notaries may buy a single bond in the amount of $30,000 to satisfy the $5,000 bond requirement for traditional notarizations and the $25,000 bond requirement for electronic notarizations.

Illinois Notaries with an active commission may perform remote notarization on tangible documents. While there's no formal registration process, we'll provide a guide soon that will detail what you need to know about electronic and remote notarization in Illinois.

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.