How to Become a Notary Public in Nevada

The application fee is $35 for a Notary Public commission in Nevada. The Secretary of State's online Notary class and exam cost $45. There may be additional county fees for filing your bond, signature and commission. Additional costs for bonds, Notary tools and education courses vary depending on vendors.

The total cost of commissioning can differ depending on whether you are a new or renewing Notary. Keep in mind that 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.

Before making your purchase, be sure to ask your vendor about any hidden fees — like processing fees – and research the quality of continuing education they provide.

The Nevada Secretary of State's office estimates three to four weeks for the processing of a Notary Public commission application.

The term of a Nevada Notary commission is four years.

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

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a resident of Nevada, or a resident of a bordering state and employed in Nevada
• Submit a complete set of fingerprints to the FBI for analysis if required by the Secretary of State
• Possess civil rights (convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored cannot become a Notary)
• Cannot hold a public office in the U.S. federal government at the time of application

Anyone applying for a Notary commission must take an approved three-hour course of instruction. The online class costs $45 and is provided by the Secretary of State's Notary Division. The Training & Class Information section of their website includes details about the topics covered as well as how to register and pay for the training.

The NNA also offers an interactive online course that provides new Notaries with the how-to knowledge needed to perform common notarial acts.

Yes, you must pass an online exam to become a Notary in Nevada.

Nevada Notaries are required to use a rubber stamp ink seal and journal for all notarial acts for paper documents. In order to get a Notary stamp, you'll need to get a certified copy of your Certificate of Appointment. The stamp must be in a rectangular shape no larger than 1" x 2.5" with an optional border. The following information must be on the stamp:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public, State of Nevada"
• Your commission expiration date
• Your commission number
• The Great Seal of the State of Nevada (optional)
• The word "non-resident," if you're a resident of an adjoining state

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.

Your journal is a record of all your official notarial acts. It is your exclusive property and may not be used by any other person or surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment.

When you're deciding which journal to buy, look for security features like tamper-proof sewn binding so it's easy to see if any pages are missing. This is extremely helpful if you're ever named in a lawsuit and simple notebooks or glue-bound journals do not offer the same level of security.

In addition to a stamp and journal, Nevada requires Notaries to post a fee schedule.

Nevada Notaries are required to get a $10,000 surety bond from an authorized provider and file it with the county clerk of your residence or employment. The bond is a financial guarantee from a bonding company for signers and parties relying on a notarization who experience financial damages because a Notary intentionally or unintentionally violated a Notary law. If damages are paid out from the bond, you will need to repay your surety company.

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

The Nevada Office of Secretary of State, Notary Division, located in Carson City, NV, issues Notary Public commissions.

If you live in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon or Utah and you work in Nevada, you may qualify to become a non-resident Nevada Notary. You must meet all of the requirements and follow all of the steps resident Notaries must complete.

You'll need to submit a Non-resident Notary Public Affidavit and provide a copy of your employer's Nevada State Business license. Additionally, you'll need your employer to fill out an Affidavit of Applicant's Employer form. If you're self-employed, you'll need to submit an Affidavit of Self-Employer Applicant form. Non-resident Notary affidavit forms are available online from the Nevada Secretary of State.

Every year, within 30 days before the anniversary of your appointment, you must submit a copy of the state business license of employment, a copy of any license required by the local government where the business is located and resubmit the affidavits.

Yes. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to become a Nevada Notary Public.

A Nevada 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. You may not notarize your own signature nor for your spouse or anyone to whom you're related by blood. In addition, you're prohibited from notarizing for a domestic partner, your domestic partner's family, stepfamily members and adopted children.

The Nevada Secretary of State sets the maximum fees Notaries can charge, which ranges from $7.50 for administering an oath or affirmation to $75 for performing a marriage ceremony. Notaries may charge an additional traveling fee, but the signer must agree to the hourly rate in advance.

If you have a change related to your address, county, signature or employment, you must notify the Notary Division within 30 days. You must submit a completed Request for Amended Certificate form and a $10 filing fee. Failure to submit a certificate within 30 days may result in the suspension of your commission.

The process to renew your Notary commission is the same as when you first applied. You must meet the requirements, take the three-hour training class, pass the exam and follow all of the initial application steps.

As of December 14, 2018, Nevada allows remote online notarizations. You must have an active Notary Public commission to apply for remote registration. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to become a remote Notary in Nevada.

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.