Notary Public

DEFINITIONS OF A NOTARY PUBLIC:

A Notary Public is a public officer whose function is

1. To administer oaths; and
2. To attend and certify, by his signature and official seal, certain classes of documents, in order to give them credit and authenticity; and
3. To make acknowledgments of deeds and other conveyances and certify the same; and
4. To perform certain official acts, chiefly in commercial matters, such as the protesting of notes and bills, the notice of foreign drafts, and marine protests in cases of damage.

 Notary Pamphlet 

REQUIREMENTS TO BE APPOINTED A NOTARY PUBLIC IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY

1. Must be a resident of Tuscaloosa County; and
2. Must be capable of posting bond in the required amount.
3. Must not be convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude.
4. Must not currently be a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding.
5. Must not currently be under an order adjudicating you incapacitated.
6. Must successfully complete the application and training process.

STEPS TO BE APPOINTED A NOTARY

1. Complete the notary application online at www.alpja.org (select Notary Public Training in the top right corner). The address on your application must be the same as what is on your drivers license. If not, you must provide proof of residency when filing your application (i.e. utility bill, lease agreement, deed, bank statement, etc.).
2. File the completed and signed application with the County Judge of Probate of applicant’s
   residence along with nonrefundable $10 filing fee.
3. Await notification letter of approval, denial, or incomplete application from the Judge of
   Probate. This review process may take up to 7 business days.
4. Complete the required online training within 30 days of application and print your
   certificate. Training information can be found at www.alpja.org.
   a. This training may be done while you await approval from the Probate Judge’s
   office, as outlined in step 3.
5. Upon receipt of your letter of approval from the Judge of Probate, you will have 40 days to obtain a $50,000 surety bond from an insurance company and file with the Probate Office. Note: Failure to return ALL required documentation to the Probate Office within 40 days will require applicant to start over at step 1.
6. Present or mail your approval letter, training certificate, signed and notarized bond, filing
   fee of $55.00, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Probate Office.

Mailing Address: Judge of Probate PO Box 20067 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Physical Address: Judge of Probate Attn: Notaries 714 Greensboro Ave, Ste 121 (1st floor, County Courthouse) Tuscaloosa, AL 35402

Questions: Call 205-464-8204

Reminder

The office of Notary Public is a serious and responsible public office and should not be taken lightly. Abuse of the office or irresponsibility in the performance of notarial duties can result in grave consequences. If a Notary Public has doubts about the propriety of any action, he or she should seek competent professional advice before he or she acts. The Alabama Notaries Public Handbook is available online for your reference.