Contact Information
The Notary Public Section
Post Office Box 29626
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0626
Appointment and Commissioning
North Carolina notary public must meet the following criteria:
Be at least 18 years of age or legally emancipated as defined in Article 35 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes
Reside or have a regular place of work or business in North Carolina
Reside legally in the United States
Speak, read and write the English language
Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
Pass the course of instruction described in Chapter 10B, unless the person is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar, including a written examination
Purchase and keep as a reference, the most recent manual approved by the Secretary that describes the duties and authority of notaries public. Go to North Carolina Notary Pubic Manual for 2016 to purchase a copy. This should be done before progressing with any of the steps listed below.
Submit an application containing no significant misstatement or omission of fact. Every application shall include the signature of the applicant written with pen and ink. The applicant shall then acknowledge the signature before a person authorized to administer oaths.
Obtain the recommendation of one publicly elected official in North Carolina and submit the recommendation with the application. The requirement of this subdivision shall not apply to any applicant who seeks to receive the oath of office from the register of deeds of a county where more than 15,000 active notaries public are on record on January 1 of the year when the application is filed.