Notary Info and Requirements by State

Learn how to become a Notary, Stamp and Seal Requirements, Recordbook Requirements, Authorized Notarial Duties, State Contact Info and more!

State Information for District of Columbia

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District of Columbia Notary Information and Requirements

District of Columbia Notary Commission Qualifications
Notary applicants must:
• be at least 18 years old;
• be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S.

How to Apply to Become a District of Columbia Notary
To become a District of Columbia notary applicants must live or work in the District of Columbia. If applying for a Business commission, your company must have a physical address in the District; if applying for a Residential commission, you must live in and have a physical address in the District. If applying for a Dual commission, both the business and residence must have physical addresses in the District. See detailed information including applicable fees, on the website of the District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary: https://os.dc.gov/service/notary-commissions

Appointing Officer
Office of the Secretary

Term of Office
5 Year Term

Notary Education and/or Exam Requirement
Training class (“Orientation”) provided by the Mayor required; to be scheduled after application has been approved. New applicants, and renewing applicants with commissions expired longer than 12 months.

Notary Bond Requirement
$2,000 Bond or Functional Equivalent Required (5-year term).

Notary Recordbook (Journal) Requirement
Recordbook (journal) required, paper and electronic notarial acts. May be a tangible (paper) medium, or electronic. If tangible, must be a permanently bound register with numbered pages. If electronic, must be in a tamper-evident electronic format that complies with any rules of the Mayor. A Notary may maintain separate journals for tangible records and for electronic records. Journal entries must be made contemporaneously with (the same time as) performance of the notarial act.

Notary Seal Requirement
• Embossing seal required, paper notarial acts. Use of a seal impression inker in conjunction with the embossing seal is REQUIRED (to render seal impression photographically reproducible).
• Electronic seal required/specified, electronic notarial acts.

Authorized Duties
• Oaths/affirmations;
• acknowledgments and certain proofs;
• verifications on oath or affirmation;
• witness or attest signatures;
• certify or attest a copy of a record;
• note protests.
• Government Notaries (for the District and the federal government) may notarize only within the scope of their government position.

Contact Information for the District of Columbia

District of Columbia Notary Website
https://os.dc.gov/service/notary-commissions

District of Columbia Notary Handbook
https://os.dc.gov/publication/dc-notary-handbook

Phone Number
(202) 727-3117

Mailing Address
Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications
441 4th Street, NW Suite 810 South
Washington, DC 20001

Apostille Certification Information

Phone Number
(202) 727-3117

Further Information
https://os.dc.gov/service/authentications

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