Return old or expired seals to the Department for disposal.
Certified Mail sent to: | Hand delivery or by delivery service to: |
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NC Department of the Secretary of State Attn: Notary Public Section PO Box 29626 Raleigh, NC 27626-0626 | NC Department of the Secretary of State Attn: Notary Public Section 2 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601-2903 |
The notary law has at least one provision that could lead to criminal charges for failing to turn in a notary seal once you are no longer commissioned. NCGS 10B-60(f) says that "Any person who without authority conceals the seal is guilty of a Class I felony".
No, a notary can’t certify a document as a true copy.
Yes. A North Carolina notary public may notarize documents in any North Carolina county.
We will investigate. The notary will have a chance to present his or her side. If we find that the notary violated the law, we can:
Under the Notary Act, notaries can be charged with both misdemeanors and felonies. A list of violations that are crimes is available on our website. Some crimes committed by notaries may also violate other laws.
Yes, but the notarial certificate must be in English.
You can contact the Authentications Unit in the Business Registration Division by:
Telephone | 919-814-5400 |
[email protected] | |
Website |
We may take up to 2 weeks to process your application if it is complete and correct. It may take longer if it is not complete or if it is incorrect.
You can’t apply for reappointment earlier than 10 weeks before your commission expires.
Yes, you will have to take and pass a test before you can be reappointed.
You have to get at least 80% of the questions right to pass the reappointment exam.
Yes, there are 2 groups of people who don’t have to take the test to get reappointed. You don’t have to take the reappointment test if you:
You can take the test online at our website.
You can take the exam 3 times in 30 days.
You will have to take the Notary Public course over again.
Yes, you need to:
If you don’t follow the name change steps, we can discipline you.
You must submit a signed letter to us including a date of resignation. Within 45 days of resigning, you have to send your seal or stamp to us by certified mail, return receipt requested. You can also hand deliver it to us when our office is open to the public. We will dispose of your stamp or seal.
No, you can’t notarize a document without notarial wording.
If you are not a licensed attorney, you can’t decide what kind of notarial act or certificate to use if the person didn’t provide one. If you are a licensed attorney, you can decide what kind of notarial act or certificate to use if the person didn’t provide one.
Yes, you can offer a selection of certificates.