Clerk of Superior Court - Georgia Notaries Public

Court Room Augusta
Clerk of Superior Court

Georgia Notaries Public

Superior Court/Georgia Notary Public Law

General Information
Powers & Duties
Instructions for New Application
Instructions for Renewal Applications
Change of Name or Residence
Seal of Office & Notarial Certificates
Notice of Loss of Theft of Seal
Resignation
Fee
Application Forms
Contact Information

Georgia Notaries Public The Office of the Clerk of Superior Court approves and issues commissions of Notary Public. Each commission is for a term of four years and may be renewed prior to the Expiration of the notary's term of office.

General Information

Qualifications of Notaries: Any individual applying for appointment to be a Notary Public must be:

At least 18 years old
A resident of this state, or neighboring state if employed in Georgia
A resident of the county from which such individual is appointed
Able to read and write the English language

After an applicant submits to the Clerk of Superior Court of the county of application, the Clerk of Superior Court shall either grant or deny a commission as a Notary Public within ten days following the applicant's submission of the necessary documents.

Powers & Duties

Notary Public have authority within any county in the State of Georgia to:

Witness or attest signature or execution of deeds and other written instrument
Take acknowledgments
Administer oaths and affirmations in all matters incidental to their duties as commercial officers and all other oaths and affirmations which are not by law required to be administered by a particular officer.
Witness affidavits upon oath or affirmation.
Take verifications upon oath or affirmation.
Make certified copies, provided that the document presented for copying is an document and is neither a public record nor a publicly recorded document certified of which are available from an official source other than a notary and provided further that the document was photocopied under supervision of the notary.
Such other acts as notaries are authorized to perform by the laws of the State of Georgia.

Definitions:

A "notarial act" means any act that a notary is authorized to perform and included, attestations, the taking of an acknowledgement, the administration of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification upon oath or affirmation, and certification of a copy
"Attesting" and "Attestation" mean the notarial act of witnessing or attesting a signature or execution of a deed or other written instrument, where such notarial act does not involve the taking of an acknowledgement, the administering of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification, or the certification of a copy.
"Notarial certificate" means the notary's documentation of a notarial act.

Instructions for New Application

Any individual desiring to be a Notary Public shall submit application to the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the individual resides or, when applying under the provisions of Code Section 45-17-7, to the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the individual work or has a business. The applicant shall sign and swear or affirm as to the truthfulness of the application.

All applications must be Typed or Printed.
Sign at the space of Application before a Notary Public.
Endorsements 1 & 2 must be completed - signatures on endorses line and home address. Endorser must be a resident of Richmond County and not related to the applicant.
Return completed form in person to the Clerk of Superior Court officer located on the 5th floor of the City-County Building between Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm.
The fee is $30.00 payable to Clerk of Superior Court, Richmond County
Verification of residence is required - Drivers license, checkbook, lease agreement, utility bill.

Instructions for Renewal Applications

Notaries must renew their commissions after four years since they are not automatically reappointed.

You must be a resident of Richmond County
You must renew prior to your expiration date. If you fail to appear on or before your expiration date please see the Instructions for New Application.
The renewal fee is $30.00 payable to Clerk of Superior Court, Richmond County

Change of Name or Residence

Every notary shall notify in writing this office with a copy to the Georgia Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority of any change in the notary's address or name. The notice shall contain both the old and new address or name and must be received by this office within 30 days of the 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 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.
Mail Name or Residence changes to:

Clerk of Richmond Superior Court
Notary Division
P.O. Box 2046
Augusta, Georgia 30903
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
404-327-9058

Seal of Office & Notarial Certificates

Each notary must provide a seal of office for the authentication of notarial acts. Richmond notaries such seal shall have the notary's name and the words "Notary Public Richmond County Georgia"
Embossment of notarial certificate by such seal is authorized but not necessary, and the use of a rubber or other type stamp shall be sufficient for imprinting the notary's seal.

Notice of loss or theft of seal

Within ten days of the loss or theft of an official seal the notary shall send a written notice of such loss or theft.
Send Loss or theft notices to:

Clerk of Richmond Superior Court
Notary Division
P.O. Box 2046
Augusta, Georgia 30903
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
404-327-9058

Resignation

A person wishing to resign the notary commission shall send a letter of resignation to:

Clerk of Richmond Superior Court
Notary Division
P.O. Box 2046
Augusta, Georgia 30903
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
404-327-9058

Fee

The filing fee for Notary is $30.00 and can be paid by cash, check or money order.

Forms

Notary Application (PDF)

Contact Information

(706) 821-2461
Clerk of Richmond Superior Court
Notary Division
P. O. Box 2046
Augusta, Georgia 30903
404-327-9058
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30345