How to become a Washington DC Notary Public

Why become a DC Notary Public?

Have you or a relative needed an official witness to a will, operating agreement or any other official document?  Does you business have official documents that need to be notarized and your tired of going to your bank to get it done.  Are you looking to make life easier for you, your company and make some money on the side?  If you said yes to any of those questions you should consider becoming a notary public for your state.

A DC Notary Public is an officially recognized individual who can acknowledge signatures, take oaths and certify copies of non-government documents.  Think of wills, operating agreements, witness to signatures on leases, company documents and more.  If your a business owner you'll be surprised by the amount of documents that require a notary public. Every state in the United States has different requirements for how you become a notary public, what type of work you can do as a notary public and how much you can charge as a notary public.

How to become a DC Notary Public?

First a few things you will need in order to complete the application and get approval to become a Washington DC Notary Public:

• Computer to complete the application
• $50 check to pay to DC
• 2 X 2 Photo of yourself
• Letter from your Employer
• Meet the General Requirements (we will discuss later)
• Complete DC Notary Public Training

The first step to becoming a DC Notary Public is reviewing the notary public requirements for the District of Columbia that are listed below.  You must meet all the requirements to be certified as a DC Notary Public.

• DC Resident or work in DC
• At least 18 years old
• Complete Notary Training
• Pay a Commission Fee
• Present a Bond or Document that shows a paid fee to cover any errors (similar to a bond or insurance)
• When notarizing check for identification prior to notarizing documents

There is a difference between DC Notary Public's that are DC residents and those that commute.  Fairly unique to DC a Resident Notary Public may notarize documents any where withing the bounds of the District of Columbia.  A Non-Resident Notary Public who works in DC, but lives elsewhere can only notarize documents at there work location.  There is also a Government Notary which may notarize documents for either the Federal or DC Government regardless of residency.

If you meet the requirements then it's time to start filling out the DC Notary Public Application.  You will need the following information to successfully fill out the application:

• Name, Address and general contact information
• Employment Information including the full business address
• 2 X 2 Photo attached to your DC Notary Public Application
• Indicate if it will be for Business or Residential Use (business or personal)
• 2 References from people who live or work in DC (cannot be relatives)
• Indicate if you hold a notary elsewhere
• Indicate ever you have been convicted of crime (depending on crime you may not be allowed to hold a DC Notary Public).
• $45 check made out to the DC Treasurer (please check to ensure fees have not increased).
• Letter of Request from Employer or your Letterhead if Self-Employed

Please be sure to sign and date the application as it will not be accepted without a signature. 

Once complete mail your application to the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications they will call you to schedule an oral examination.  They will also let you know the next date for the required DC Notary Public training.  Please review the Notary Handbook to find out more details. 

After completing the training you will need to get a $2,000 bond and purchase a notary seal.  The bond is basically a form of insurance that covers the city of DC for any errors you may make as a notary.  The Notary Public seal itself cost from $10 to $30 depending on quality.  At the end of the articles are listed some resources that may  help you in purchasing a DC Notary Public seal. 

Finally you will need to go in person to the Office of Notary Commission and Authentications to receive the Oath of Office.  Be sure to bring the following with you:

• Notary Seal Embosser - with your name on the seal
• Notary Surety Bond - copy of the $2,000 bond good for 5 years
• Photo Identification

After the Oath of Office is administered you are now a Washington DC Notary Public.  You are an authorized DC Notary Public for a term of 5 years.  After 5 years you will have to go through much the same process to renew your DC Notary Public.

DC Notary Public Tips:

• Many small business that require official documents will save time\money by having a notary public on staff.
• Most banks have a DC Notary Public on staff, but there will be a fee for the service.
• You can only charge fees according to the DC Notary Public Handbook.
• If you become a DC Notary Public let other offices near you know, they may cover the cost of the application.

After completing all of those steps you are officially a Notary Public.  If you live in the DC area you may consider becoming a Notary Public for Virginia and Maryland, which have an easier process.  A couple articles on how to become a Notary Public in Virginia and Maryland are listed in the Resources section.