Most of us have seen signs advertising Notary Publics or signed a document that required one, but what exactly does a Notary Public do? And, how does someone become one?

The main role of Notary Publics is to acknowledge signatures, meaning they verify that the person signing a document is who he or she claims to be. Specific to KFTC’s work, the application to restore civil rights for former felons requires the signature of a notary. Becoming a notary is not as difficult a process as one might expect. Below are the steps to take if you’re interested:

1. In order to become a notary, you must be at least 18 years old, be a resident of the county where you are applying or be principally employed there, be of good moral character, and be capable of discharging the duties imposed upon you by law.
2. You can obtain the Notary Public Application on the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ky.gov/adminservices/notaries/  . You can also get one from your County Clerk’s office. This may be the easier route since your county clerk will need to fill out a portion at the bottom of the application.
3. Once you’re done with the application, you mail it to Notary Commissions, PO Box 821, Frankfort, KY  40602-0821 along with a $10.00 application fee.
4. If your application is approved, you will receive a postcard in the mail instructing you to post bond and take the Oath of Office. You must do this within 30 days of receiving your postcard, or you’ll have to start the process all over.
5. For specific instructions on posting bond, you should contact your County Clerk’s office. For example, in Fayette County, you can post bond by having a landowner other than yourself sign for you, or by purchasing insurance through a company that provides notary insurance. Other counties may have different methods.
6. After posting bond, you take the Oath of Office at your County Clerk’s office. The Oath is about a paragraph in length and primarily says that you will not duel with anyone. 
7. You may have to pay a fee to your County Clerk to process your certificate. In Fayette County, it costs $19 plus another $1 to mail it out. 
8. You’ll receive your certificate appointing you as a Notary Public.
9. Unless you’ll be notarizing documents that leave the state, you will not need to purchase stamps or seals that different companies may try to sell you. 
10. If you’d like further guidance as a Notary Public, you can read through the “Notary Handbook” available as a pdf file on the Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.ky.gov/adminservices/notaries/.