How to Become a Notary Public in New York

Executive Law section 130 lets the Secretary of State appoint notaries whose jurisdiction covers the whole state. At the time of appointment you must either live in New York or have an office or place of business here. A resident who later moves away but keeps a New York office keeps the commission; a nonresident who gives up the New York office vacates it.

The Department's application guidance adds that applicants must be at least 18. Section 130 also directs the Secretary to be satisfied that a non-attorney applicant is of good moral character, has the equivalent of a common school education, and is familiar with a notary's duties. The written exam is how that last point is tested.

Section 130 bars appointment of anyone convicted of a crime unless the Secretary makes a finding, consistent with Article 23-A of the Correction Law, that the conviction is not a bar. The Department's FAQ explains the practical effect: a felony generally disqualifies, some misdemeanors do too, and an executive pardon, a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct can reopen the door. The application asks about convictions and pending charges, and a yes answer means you will be asked for more documents, so gather court records before you start.

The Department of State runs the exam itself at sites around the state. Outside New York City the sessions are walk-in, first come first served; in New York City you must email the exam unit and wait for a confirmed date. The fee is $15, paid at the site by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa. Results arrive by mail as pass or fail, and a pass is good for two years, so do not sit for it long before you plan to apply.

Two groups skip the exam but not the fee: members of the New York State Bar, and Unified Court System court clerks appointed after a civil service promotional exam in the court clerk series. Our companion guide on the New York notary exam covers sites, ID rules and content in detail.

Before you open the online application, download the Notary Public Oath of Office form (DOS-2201), fill it in, sign it by hand in ink, and have it notarized by a commissioned notary who adds their name, county, identification number and expiration date. The Department wants a single-page scanned PDF, not a phone photo. Its application guidance lists the usual rejections: a missing county box above the signature, an electronic signature, and details that do not match the application word for word.

Applications are filed online through NY Business Express under the Notary Public Commission record (DOS-0033). You sign in with a NY.gov account and choose either a traditional or an electronic notary commission. Have these ready: a copy or photo of your exam pass slip, the scanned oath, a credit or debit card for the $60 fee, and your Social Security or individual taxpayer number (or a written explanation if you have neither).

Your name must match your government photo ID, the oath and the application affirmation exactly. Your New York residence address is disclosable under the Freedom of Information Law unless you also give a New York business address, in which case only the business address is released. Do not mail paper copies of an online application; the Department says extra mail can delay processing.

New York has no separate trip to a clerk to be sworn in, because the oath travels with the application. Once the Department approves you, it issues an identification card showing your name, address, county and term; online applicants receive a printable card by email. The Secretary then sends your application information and signature to the clerk of your county of residence, who keeps the official record that the public can check.

If you expect to notarize regularly in other counties, you may file a certificate of official character with those county clerks. The commission term is four years.

Under the Department's rules in 19 NYCRR 182.3, you must send notice of a change of name, address or email within five days. A name or address change costs $10, waived when a name change results from a change in marital status. You continue notarizing under your commissioned name until the term ends.

Renewal costs $60 and is done from your NY Business Express dashboard. The regulations allow a reappointment application within 90 days before expiration, and the Department's guidance says a license expired six months or less may still be renewed. A fresh oath of office is required each time. Electronic notaries register that capability separately for a $60 registration fee, and the electronic commission replaces the traditional one.