Become a Notary

How do I become a Notary Public?

The Clerk of Superior Court of Jones County approves and issues Notary Public Commissions. Notaries are commissioned for a four-year term, after which time a commission may be renewed by submitting a completed renewal application to the Clerk’s office before the expiration of your term. Please see the table below for the most up-to-date fees.

By law, all information contained in the application is open to public inspection.

Notary Public applications can be completed online. After completion, please print your notary package and follow the instructions that will print with your Notary Package.

If you have questions concerning appointments or renewals, call our office at (478) 986-6671. Please note that you will need two endorsers for a new notary public application. They must also live in Jones County, and cannot be related to you. Bring your completed application to the Clerk’s office to be commissioned and receive your certificate.

We have Georgia Notary Handbooks that provide helpful details relating to the notary commission available for a fee. Please see the table below for the most up-to-date fees.

There are multiple Notary Publics at the Jones County Courthouse that can assist you with notarizing documents.

Notary Information

Apostille Information

Find a Notary Public

Online Notary Public Application

Notary Handbook & Forms

A Notary Public has authority within any county in the State of Georgia to:

Witness or attest signature or execution of deeds and other written instrument
Take acknowledgments
Administer oaths and affirmations in all matters incidental to their duties as commercial officers and all other oaths and affirmations which are not by law required to be administered by a particular officer
Witness affidavits upon oath or affirmation
Take verification upon oath or affirmation
Make certified copies, provided that the document presented for copying is an document and is neither a public record nor a publicly recorded document certified of which are available from an official source other than a notary and provided further that the document was photocopied under supervision of the notary
Such other acts as notaries are authorized to perform by the laws of the State of Georgia

Definitions

Notarial Act - any act that a notary is authorized to perform and included, attestations, the taking of an acknowledgment, the administration of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification upon oath or affirmation, and certification of a copy
Attesting and attestation - the notarial act of witnessing or attesting a signature or execution of a deed or other written instrument, where such notarial act does not involve the taking of an acknowledgment, the administering of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification, or the certification of a copy
Notarial certificate - the notary’s documentation of a notarial act

A Notary is disqualified from performing a notarial act in situations that impugn or compromise the impartiality of the Notary. Specific situations that require disqualification are:

When the Notary is the signer of the document to be notarized
When the Notary knows a statement on a document is false or an action is intended to deceive or defraud
When the Notary is a party to the document or transaction for which the notarial act is required
Notarizing for relatives is strongly discouraged

A Notary may not perform a notarial act without confirming the identity of the document signer, oath taker or affirmant.

The commission of a Notary may be revoked for violation of any provision of law.

A Notary is not obligated to perform a notarial act if the Notary believes such act is for transaction, which the Notary knows or suspect is illegal, false, or deceptive; for a person who is being coerced or for a person the Notary has doubts that they understand the consequences of the act.

A Notary must provide a seal of office for the authentication of notarial acts. The seal must have the Notary’s name and the words “Notary Public, Jones County, Georgia.” Either an embossing or a rubber-stamp type seal is authorized by law. A copy of the original certificate of appointment must be presented in order to obtain a Notary seal from an office supply company.

Notarial acts must be made in ink, with the Notary’s name appearing exactly as it is on the Notary commission. The date of the notarial act is required except in connection with attestation of deeds or other instruments pertaining to real estate.

This is only a guide and the Clerk of Superior Court of Jones County strongly recommends that a Notary obtain a Notary Handbook, either through our office or the American Society of Notaries ((800)522-3392). This handbook fully addresses the duties and responsibilities of a Notary.

Residence Change

Every notary shall notify in writing this office with a copy to the Georgia Superior Court Clerk’s Cooperative Authority of any change in the notary’s address. The notice shall contain both the old and new address and must be received by this office within 30 days of the change.

Mail name or residence changes to both:

Jones County Superior Court
Notary Division
P. O. BOX 39
Gray, GA 31032
Ph: (478) 986-6671

Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Blvd.
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30345
Ph: (404) 327-9058

Name Change
A notary with a new name may begin to officially sign the new name when the notice has been received by this office, a confirmation of the name change has been received from this office, and a new seal bearing the new name has been obtained. In order to obtain a new seal, notaries must bring notice of name change to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for processing.

(Source: www.gsccca.org)

Common Fees

Fee Type	Fee Amount	Additional Information
Notary Commission Fee	$45.00
Notary Handbook	$10.00

Jones County Clerk of Superior Court

110 S. Jefferson St, Gray, GA 31032 | (478) 986-6671

Open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

For other county departments go to:

jonescountyga.org

Become a Notary

How do I become a Notary Public?

Common Fees

Jones County Superior Court | 110 S Jefferson St, Gray, GA 31032 | (478) 986-6671 | M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm