How to Become a Notary Public in Mississippi

The state filing fee is $25. The cost of your seal and bond 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.

The process to become a commissioned Mississippi Notary Public should take about a week, according to the Secretary of State's website.

The term of a Mississippi Notary commission is four years.

There are basic qualifications for a person to become a Notary in Mississippi. Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S.
• Be a resident of Mississippi and have resided in the county of residence for at least 30 days prior to applying
• Be able to read and write English
• Not be currently incarcerated, on probation or on parole
• Not have had a lifetime felony conviction unless pardoned by the Governor or had your voting rights restored by the state Legislature
• Not have had a Notary commission revoked, suspended, restricted or denied, or been found to have engaged in official misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance in Mississippi or any other state

No training or exam is required for Mississippi Notaries.

You'll need a Notary seal and journal for every notarization you perform. The seal must be an inked stamp that is capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached. The seal must contain the following information:

• Your name
• Your jurisdiction
• Your commission expiration date
• Other information required by the SOS

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.

A Notary journal is also required by law. 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, a $5,000 four-year bond is required for Mississippi Notaries. Additionally, many 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 Mississippi.

The Governor appoints Notaries Public, and the Secretary of State, located in Jackson, MS, oversees the Notary application process and maintains a record of all Notaries.

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.

Yes. Several companies offer Notary training, supplies, insurance and assistance with the entire application process. Also, the Secretary of State's website has the application, if you want to get the process started on your own.

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

You can notarize for everyone, excluding yourself and your relatives. You cannot notarize your own signature, nor can you notarize documents you are named in or would benefit from. Mississippi law also specifically prohibits notarizing for a spouse, ancestor, descendant or sibling, including in-laws, step relatives and half relatives. MS Notaries are also disqualified from notarizing for people who live in their same household. If you perform notarizations as part of your employment, your employer may limit the notarizations you perform during your work hours.

In Mississippi, Notaries can charge a maximum fee of $5 per notarial act. An additional fee for travel can be charged, but only if the signer agrees to it in advance and the signer understands the extra fee is separate from the notarial fee. If you charge any fees, you must display an English-language fee schedule in your place of business or present it to signers when outside of your place of business.

If you change your address or name, you must notify the Secretary of State within 30 days of the change. Complete the Application for Notary Public Change of Address or Application for Notary Public Change of Name form, and mail it to the Secretary along with a $20 fee.

You must get a new seal or stamp with your new county of residence or name. For name changes, you must first receive a replacement commission from the SOS before getting your new seal and informing the surety for your bond about your new name in writing. You may continue using your former name in notarial acts until the SOS sends you a new commission and you've completed the above steps.

It depends. Even the most careful and detail-oriented people can make mistakes. As a Notary Public, any unintentional mistake you make or intentional misconduct you engage in could be very costly for everyone involved. Notaries have been sued for financial damages that signers incur, and lawsuits are expensive even if you're innocent. If you are diligent in following the law and keep thorough records, you'll be better prepared if any legal action does come your way.

The process to renew your commission is the same as the process to become a Notary for the first time. You should begin the renewal process no earlier than 90 days before your commission expires. You may purchase a new Notary seal to reflect your updated commission expiration date. You may also choose to get a new record book (journal) if your old one is full.

Mississippi does not allow remote online notarization (RON), but there are 39 states that do. Check out this article on what you need to know about RON and how it works.

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.