Notary Public

DEFINITIONS OF A NOTARY PUBLIC:

A Notary Public is a public officer whose function it 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.

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.

STEPS TO BE APPOINTED A NOTARY

1. Applicant must provide a bond in the amount of $25,000.00. It is best to contact an insurance company to obtain a notary public;
2. Present Notarized Bond, current driver’s license reflecting you are a resident of Tuscaloosa County and $30.00 filing fee ($15.00 12-19-90(b)(39) + $10.00 36-20-70 + $3.00 12-19-90(b)(20) + $2.00 Act No. 90-284) must be presented in person during regular business hours.  We do ask that you arrive no later than 4:30 pm in order to properly assist you.

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.