Notary Application Process
Complete the New Notary Application at Georgia Clerk's Authority Notary Application; select the appropriate County; select the ‘New Application’; complete all relevant fields; and print the application. All documents must be notarized prior to mailing or scheduling an in-person appointment. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department will no longer notarize documents beginning January 1, 2026.
Download Printable Notary Checklist
Notary Term: Four (4) Years
New Notary Commission / In Person (Updated)
Important reminder:
NOTARY OFFICE HOURS: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Before you come to the office, make sure you have all documents required to avoid delay.
>NEW REQUIREMENTS BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2025
PLEASE READ TO AVOID DELAYED PROCESSING OR DENIAL OF YOUR NOTARY APPLICATION.
The Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session passed House Bill 1292 which updated requirements for Notary Commission. The updates apply to both new and renewal Notary Commission applicants.
NEW: A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s initial (new) appointment OR renewal. A certificate of completion will be issued upon successful completion of the training course. A notary public applicant must present the certificate of completion with the notary application to the Clerk of Superior Court to complete the application process.
NEW: A notary public is required to maintain a written or electronic journal for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer for real estate documents.
- Complete Application (notarized and endorsed) https://apps.gsccca.org/NotaryApplication/
Endorsement Page:
You must have two (2) endorsers, 18 years or older, non-related, DeKalb County Resident endorsers sign the endorsement page. Note: An endorser cannot be the same as the notary. The endorser cannot be the applicant. The two endorsers cannot be related to the applicant, in any way.
- Fee: ($54) Credit/Debit Card*, Cash, Business Check or Money Order, made payable to: Clerk of Superior Court, DeKalb County (*Credit card surcharge of 2% fee +$1.00.) Personal check are not accepted.
- Identification: Proof of Identification: Please provide a copy of a Valid Georgia Driver’s License* or State Issued I.D. * Address on identification MUST MATCH address on application.
Proof of Residency: Bring one (1) of the following as proof of DeKalb County Residency: Address must match application. (P.O. Boxes may NOT be used for proof of residency. You must provide a physical address in DeKalb County)
- Your current driver's license;
- GA identification card;
- Voter identification card; or
- DeKalb gun permit license
Bring your completed New Notary Application Packet, fee, proof of residency, Certificate of Completion and signed endorsement page to:
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court
Notary/Trade Name
DeKalb County Courthouse
556 North McDonough Street
Ground Floor, G-50
Decatur, GA 30030
Go to Georgia Clerk's Authority to Start Application Here: https://apps.gsccca.org/NotaryApplication/
Select New Application, complete Application.
New Notary Commission / Mail & Zoom (Updated)
To obtain your Notary Commission by mail and Zoom Swearing In, please complete the application and mail to our office. We will contact you to schedule your swearing in for your notary commission.
New Notary Commission Application / Mail & Zoom
Follow these steps to complete New Notary Application process:
>NEW REQUIREMENTS BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2025
PLEASE READ TO AVOID DELAYED PROCESSING OR DENIAL OF YOUR NOTARY APPLICATION.
The Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session passed House Bill 1292 which updated requirements for Notary Commission. The updates apply to both new and renewal Notary Commission applicants.
NEW: A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s initial (new) appointment OR renewal. A certificate of completion will be issued upon successful completion of the training course. A notary public applicant must present the certificate of completion with the notary application to the Clerk of Superior Court to complete the application process.
NEW: A notary public is required to maintain a written or electronic journal for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer for real estate documents.
Complete & Print Notary Application: https://apps.gsccca.org/NotaryApplication/
Sign Application and have notarized* Sign your Application in Section 111 A in the presence of a Notary Public. *Have the Notary Public who witnessed your signature sign the Application in Section III B.
Confirm Endorsers: New Notary Applications must have two endorsers. Have both Endorsers sign under their name in Section IV. Must be original signatures (No copies):
· Endorsers Must Be: 18 years or older, non-related, DeKalb County Residents that have known you for over 30 days,
· Endorsers must sign the endorsement page on the application.
· Endorsers cannot be the applicant.
· Note: An application will be rejected if the notary is the same as an endorser or if they are related, in any way, to the applicant.
Proof of Identification: Provide a Copy of Valid Driver’s License* or State Issued I.D. * Address on all proof of residence and identification MUST MATCH address on application.
Proof of Residence: The following documents are the only accepted proof of residency:
· A second form of Government or State issued I.D. or driver’s license showing current
address, or
· Current Voter identification card with current address, or
· Valid DeKalb gun permit with current address
* (P.O. Boxes may NOT be used for proof of residency. You must provide a physical address in DeKalb County)
Payment: Business Check or Money Order for $54.00 - Made Payable to Clerk of Superior Court, DeKalb County. Personal checks are not accepted.
Certificate of Completion of Training Class: REQUIRED
Mail Completed Notary Application with all required proof of identification, certificate, and residency to:
DEKALB COUNTY CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT
556 N. MCDONOUGH ST.
SU1TE G-50
DECATUR, GA 30030
Once the application and all required copies are receved, a clerk will contact your to schedule your swearing in.
Go to Georgia Clerk's Authority to Start Application Here: https://apps.gsccca.org/NotaryApplication/
Select New Application, and complete.
Renewal Notary (Updated)
>NEW REQUIREMENTS BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2025
PLEASE READ TO AVOID DELAYED PROCESSING OR DENIAL OF YOUR NOTARY APPLICATION.
The Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session passed House Bill 1292 which updated requirements for Notary Commission. The updates apply to both new and renewal Notary Commission applicants.
NEW: A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s initial (new) appointment OR renewal. A certificate of completion will be issued upon successful completion of the training course. A notary public applicant must present the certificate of completion with the notary application to the Clerk of Superior Court to complete the application process.
NEW: A notary public is required to maintain a written or electronic journal for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer for real estate documents.
Renewals: https://apps.gsccca.org/NotaryApplication/
Renewal Applications must be processed within 30 days PRIOR to the expiration date. All documents must be notarized. A Certificate of Completion for training is required for all RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.
DeKalb County Residents holding a Previous Notary Commission from Another County in Georgia:
If you are a DeKalb County resident but hold a notary commission issued in a different Georgia county, you may renew your commission in DeKalb. You may renew within 30 days prior to your expiration date, but you must renew on or before the expiration date. Failure to renew prior to the expireation date will require a new application.
Mail-In Renewals (optional) require payment by credit card only. Walk in Renewals pay by Credit/Debit Card*, Cash, Business Check or Money Order, made payable to: Clerk of Superior Court, DeKalb County (*Credit card surcharge of 2% fee +$1.00.) Personal check are not accepted.
After completing the Application you will be required to enter your credit card information.
Fee: Mail-In Renewal in DeKalb County is $54.00 plus a $5.89 processing fee to the cover the cost of postage, supplies, and processing.
* The total amount charged to your credit card will be $59.89. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted.
Go to: https://apps.gsccca.org/NotaryApplication/; select DeKalb County; select Mail-In Renewal Application; complete all relevant fields; print completed application (6 pages total).
Mail the completed application packet including the (3) notary certificates, along with and a copy of proof of residency (see below) to the address below for processing within 14 days of the online entry.
Applications not processed within 14 days will be deleted from the online site and the applicant will be required to re-enter all information.
REQUIRED: Include one of the following as proof of DeKalb County Residency: Address must match the address on Proof of Residency.
- Your current driver's license;
- GA identification card;
- Voter identification card; or
- DeKalb gun permit license;
Mail to:
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court
Notary Office
DeKalb County Courthouse
Ground Floor, Room G-50,
556 North McDonough Street,
Decatur GA 30030.
Notary Fees
Notary Fee - New or Renewal - $54.00.
Notary Authentication - $2.00
Printable Notary Checklist
Payment Type Accepted noted under each Notary Type listed above.
Resignation of Notary
Notary Resignation
A Notary wishing to resign their notary commission shall send a letter of resignation to the Clerk of Superior Court with a copy to the Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority. The notary shall destroy the official seal in the event of resignation. A notary whose commission expires and who does not apply for renewal shall also destroy the notary seal.
The office of the Clerk of Superior Court approves and issues commissions for Notary Public. Each commission is for a term of four (4) years.
It is unlawful for any person to present himself or herself as a notary or to exercise the powers of a notary without an effective notary commission. A notary shall not make claims to have or imply he or she has powers, qualifications, rights or privileges that a notary does not possess by law.
Change of Address
Notary Change of Address
Every notary shall notify the Clerk of Superior Court, with a copy to the Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30345, in writing of any change in the notary’s address or name. The notice shall contain both the old and new address and name and must be received by the Clerk’s office within 30 days of said change. In the event of a name change the new signature of the notary must be included. A notary with a new name may begin to officially sign using the new name once this office has received the notice of the name, a confirmation of the name change is sent to the Notary, and a new seal bearing the Notary's new name has been obtained.
A notary with a new name may begin to officially sign the new name when the notice has been received by this office; a confirmation of the name change has been received from this office and a new seal bearing the new name has been obtained.
Theft or Loss of Notary Seal
Theft or Loss of Notary Seal
Notification of the loss or theft of the notarial seal must be received by the Clerk’s office within (10) days of the loss or theft. A copy of the notification must also be sent to the Superior Court Clerk’s Cooperative Authority.
Seal of Office and Notarial Certificates
Notary Seals and Certifications
Each notary must provide a seal of office for the authentication of notorial acts. The seal must contain the name of the notary and the name of the county in which the commission was receieved. Example: John Doe, Notary Public, DeKalb County GA.
Embossment of notorial certifications by the seal is authorzed but not necessary: the use of a rubber stamp or other type stamp will be acceptable for imprinting the notorial seal. At the time of the commission, each notary will receive a duplicate copy of their notary certificate for presentation to a supplier of notry seals. The presentment of such a duplicate to a supplier is necessary to obtain a notary seal.
In performing documentation of a notorial act, a notary shall sign the certification in ink exactly as the name appears on the notary commission and notary seal and shall also record the exact date of the notorial act. However, in connection with attestationof deeds or other instruments' pertaining to real property the date of the notorial act shall not be required.
NOTARY RESOURCES
NOTARY LOG PRINTABLE PDF. Download a copy of a full page Notary Log here. Select to save to your computer or select to print as many copies as you may need.
Beginning July 1, 2024, SB 322 Increases the Notary Fee to $54.00.
Expired: If your notary has expired (meaning the expiration date has passed), you MUST complete a New Notary Application. However, if the expiration date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, you have until the following Monday to complete your Renewal Application.
Jurisdiction:
Georgia notary publics may perform notarial acts anywhere within the State of Georgia. All information contained in the application is considered public information under Georgia law.
Notary Training is required in order to receive a commission. An online training course is available during your application process at https://elearn.gsccca.org/home/index.php for notary public and notary public applicants.
Download a printable Notary Log here to record official notory actions.
Contact Us
Contact our office at 404-371-2250 or send a message here: Contact Us Notary
Helpful Links
DEPARTMENTS LIST
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court
Notary/Trade Name
DeKalb County Courthouse
556 North McDonough Street
Ground Floor, G 50
Decatur, GA 30030
8:30AM - 4:30PM
