How to Become a Notary in Kentucky

How do I renew my notary commission in Kentucky?

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To renew your Kentucky notary commission, follow the same steps as when you applied to become a notary the first time. You can renew your notary commission up to sixty days prior to your commission expiration date.

Who appoints notaries in Kentucky?

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The Kentucky Secretary of States receives applications for appointment and reappointment as a notary public, administers the commissioning process, and maintains an electronic database of active notaries and online notaries.

Kentucky Secretary of State
Notary Commissions
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 158
PO Box 821
Frankfort, Kentucky 40602-0821
Phone: (502) 564-3490
Email: sosnotary@ky.gov

Can a non-resident of Kentucky apply for a commission as a notary public?

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Yes. A non-resident may apply to become a Kentucky notary public if the non-resident meets all the eligibility requirements, setting aside the residency requirement, and has a place of employment or practice in the Kentucky county where the application is submitted.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Kentucky?

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The term of office for a Kentucky notary public is four years. A notary cannot notarize documents after their notary commission expires without first renewing their notary commission with the secretary of state and receiving a new notary commission certificate.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Kentucky?

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No. An applicant seeking appointment or reappointment as a Kentucky notary public is not required to complete any notary training or pass a notary course or exam. The American Association of Notaries recommends that all Kentucky notary applicants complete a notary course so they can clearly understand their state’s notary laws and the duties and responsibilities of a notary.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Kentucky?

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The cost to become a notary in Kentucky includes:

1. A $10 filing fee to process an application for appointment or reappointment.
2. A $1,000 surety bond. Click here to view our Kentucky notary bond price.
3. A notary stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
4. A notary journal if you wish to record your notarial acts. Click here to view our notary journal prices.
5. A notary errors and omissions insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself in the event you are sued for unintentional mistakes or a false claim is filed against you as a notary. Click here to view our notary e/o policy premiums and coverage amounts.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Kentucky?

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a Kentucky notary public or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Kentucky notary obtain a notary E&O insurance policy. This insurance protects you from a claim if a client sues you as a notary. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage you select as a Kentucky notary public.

Kentucky notary errors and omissions insurance policies are available to order online at the American Association of Notaries website.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Kentucky?

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Yes. All Kentucky notary applicants are required to maintain a four-year, $1,000 notary bond for the duration of their notary term. The notary bond protects the public from a notary’s errors. If a member of the public files a claim against a notary’s bond, the bonding company is very likely to sue the notary to recoup the funds it paid on the notary’s behalf. A notary bond does not protect notaries from mistakes they make. This is why notary errors and omissions insurance (commonly known as “E&O” or “E&O insurance”) is vital.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Kentucky?

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The Kentucky notary statute does not require Kentucky notaries to use an official stamp to authenticate the notarial acts they perform.

If a notary public chooses to use a stamp, the notary must have an official stamp which includes:

• The Notary’s Name
• Title
• Jurisdiction
• Commission Number
• Commission Expiration Date

The stamp must also be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated.

If a notary public elects not to use an official stamp when performing notarial acts, the certificate of the notarial act shall:

• Be signed and dated by the notarial officer and, if the notarial officer is a notary public, be signed in the same manner as on file with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
• Identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed.
• Contain the title of office and name of the notarial officer.
• If the notarial officer is a notary public, indicate the commission number and date of expiration, if there is an expiration date, of the officer's commission.

The American Association of Notaries offers quality notary stamps and seals at savings of up to 40% or more compared to the same products elsewhere. Click here to order your Kentucky notary stamp, complete notary package, and other notary supplies.

What are the steps to replace a lost or stolen Kentucky notary seal?

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If a Kentucky notary public’s stamping device is lost or stolen, the notary public must promptly complete and mail a report form to notify the Kentucky Secretary of State.

How much can a Kentucky notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

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Kentucky does not have a set fee schedule on how much a notary can charge. However, if a notary charges a fee they must:   

• Be in compliance with KRS 64.300.
• Clearly disclose the fee to the person requesting the service in advance.

Is a notary journal required in Kentucky?

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Notary journal requirements for each type of notarization in Kentucky:

• Traditional and Remote Notarizations – A Kentucky notary performing traditional and remote notarizations is not required to maintain a notary journal; however, it is a best practice that all notaries keep a record of all notarial acts performed. A notary journal can be maintained on a tangible medium or in an electronic format. If a tangible record book is maintained, it must be bound with pre-numbered pages to deter unauthorized removal of pages.
• Notarial Acts with Respect to Electronic Records and Electronic Notarizations – A notary notarizing electronic records is required to maintain an electronic notary journal in which to chronicle all notarizations performed. The journal must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with administrative regulations pursuant to KRS 423.415.

A notary journal (also known as a record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery or fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.

 
The American Association of Notaries offers notary journals in tangible and electronic formats.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Kentucky notaries record in their notary journals?

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For Traditional and Remote Notarizations – If you choose to maintain a notary journal, it is best practice to record the following information:

1. The document signer’s signature.
2. The date and time of the notarization.
3. The date of the document.
4. The type of notarization performed and the type of document notarized.
5. The document signer’s address.
6. A statement as to how you verified the signer’s identity.
7. The fee, if any, charged for the notarial act.
8. Special comments about the transaction.

Notarial Acts with Respect to Electronic Records and Electronic Notarizations – Kentucky requires a notary public notarizing electronic documents to chronicle the following information in their notary journals:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. A brief description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act as authorized in KRS 423.310.
3. The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
4. If the identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect.
5. If the identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification used as well as the date of issuance and expiration of any identification credential presented.
6. The fee, if any, charged by the notary public.
7. An indication of whether the individual making a statement or executing a signature appeared before the notary public in the notary’s physical presence or by means of communication technology.

What steps should I take if my Kentucky notary journal is lost or stolen?

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If a Kentucky notary public’s journal is lost or stolen, the notary public must promptly complete and mail a report form to notify the Kentucky Secretary of State.

How long should I retain my Kentucky notary journal?

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Tangible Notary Journal - Kentucky notary laws do not address this question, since tangible notary journals are optional. We recommend you keep the tangible notary journal indefinitely.

Electronic Notary Journal - The required electronic journal must be maintained for at least ten years after the performance of the last electronic notarization chronicled in the journal.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Kentucky?

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A Kentucky notary public may perform a notarial act in any county within the geographic borders of the state of Kentucky. Likewise, a Kentucky notary may not perform notarial acts outside of Kentucky.

What notarial acts can a Kentucky notary public perform?

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A Kentucky notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts:

• Take acknowledgments.
• Administer oaths and affirmations.
• Take verifications of statements on oath or affirmation.
• Certify that a copy of any document—other than a document that is recorded or in the custody of any federal, state, or local governmental agency, office, or court—is a true copy.
• Certify depositions of witnesses.
• Make or note a protest of a negotiable instrument.
• Witness or attest signatures.
• Perform any notarial act authorized by a law of the Commonwealth other than KRS 423.300 to 423.455.
• Certify that a tangible copy of an electronic record is an accurate copy of an electronic record.

What kind of notarizations are allowed in Kentucky?

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Kentucky law allows the following four types of notarizations.

Traditional Notarizations (In-Person) – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. Traditional notarization involves an individual signing a tangible document with an inked pen and a notary public signing and affixing an inked notary stamp impression to the tangible notarial certificate.

Notarial Acts with Respect to Electronic Records (In-Person) – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. However, the notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Electronic Notarizations (for remotely located individuals) – The signer appears remotely before an online notary via audio-visual communication technology. The notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote Notarizations (for remotely located individuals) – The signer appears before a notary via audio-video communication technology. This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to send the document to each other and for the notary public to use their physical stamp to notarize the tangible document without the aid of an electronic seal or electronic signature.

What are the steps to become an online notary in Kentucky?

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An online notary in Kentucky can perform electronic notarizations using communication technologies. To become an online notary in Kentucky, follow the steps listed below:

1. Hold an existing Kentucky notary public commission.
2. Contract with a notary technology provider approved by the secretary of state.
3. Print and complete an Online Registration to Perform Notarial Acts with Respect to Electronic documents form. Scan it and save it on your computer.
4. Register on the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website to perform  notarizations on electronic records for individuals that appear by communication technology, in-person or both.
5. Pay the $10 fee.
6. Await notification of your approval from the secretary of state to finalize the process with the technology provider before you can begin notarization documents.

What are the steps to register to perform remote notarizations in Kentucky?

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To perform remote notarizations on tangible documents, you must notify the Kentucky Secretary of State of your intention to do so. Include the following information in your email:

• Your full name as it appears on your commission certificate.
• Your current commission ID# and expirations date.
• Your chosen communication technology.

Important: Registering to perform remote notarizations on tangible documents does not authorize you to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records. Click here to learn how to perform remote notarizations on electronic documents.

How do I update my address on my Kentucky notary commission?

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A Kentucky notary public must notify the secretary of state within ten days if, at any time during their notary commission term, there is a change to their mailing address, email address, county of residence, or business address. A notary public must mail the Notary Public Change of Information form with the new information, along with a $10 filing fee, to the Kentucky Secretary of State.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Kentucky?

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A notary public whose name changes during their notary commission term must file with the Kentucky Secretary of State, within ten days of the name change, a completed Notary Public Change of Information form with a $10 filing fee.

Note: If the change of name will result in a change of your notary electronic signature, electronic stamp, or digital certificate, you will need to submit an updated registration form electronically to the Kentucky Secretary of State.

Revised:

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November 2024