To become a notary in Indiana, you need to follow these steps:
- Meet the eligibility requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S.
- Be a full-time, permanent resident of Indiana or primarily employed in Indiana.
- Not have disqualifying criminal convictions or acts of dishonesty.
- Obtain an Indiana State Police limited criminal history record (this must be recent, not older than 30 days).
- Purchase a $25,000 surety bond for an eight-year term.
- Complete a web-based notary application on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website, including uploading your bond and criminal history record. There is a non-refundable $75 application fee, which includes the notary course and exam.
- Take the required notary educational course and pass the exam administered by the Secretary of State.
- Once approved, receive your notary commission certificate.
- Purchase and use an Indiana notary stamp to authenticate notarizations.
The entire commissioning process typically takes 5-10 business days after application. The initial cost to become a notary in Indiana is about $191, which covers the application fee, criminal background check, surety bond, and notary seal. You cannot perform notarial acts until you have received your commission certificate. You can also renew your notary commission following the same process before your commission expires after eight years. This step- by-step guide helps ensure you comply with Indiana laws to become a commissioned notary public successfully.
