10/17/2024
**Notary Public** Changes coming January 1, 2025 and this will apply to EXISTING notary public commissions and new commissions in the State of Georgia (even if you're not in Miller County this still applies to you). Everybody who holds and would like to continue holding and those who want to become a notary will have to meet the requirements listed below. It's really not such a bad idea to be trained because lots of us need a refresher on the who, what, when, where and why we do things (not just notarial acts).
With the adoption of House Bill 1292 by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session, Georgia’s notaries public will be required to complete an educational training course as part of the application process. Additionally, notaries will be required to maintain a journal of their notarial acts. The educational requirement applies to all notary applicants, whether it is an initial (new) application or a renewal application. The new requirements become effective January 1, 2025.
HB 1292 [O.C.G.A. §45-17-8(h)(2)] directs the Clerks’ Authority to adopt rules and regulations, as necessary, to implement the statutory requirements. Adopted by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority’s Board of Directors on October 9, 2024, please see The Notary Educational Rules for the State of Georgia attached.
Highlights of HB 1292 and The Notary Educational Rules for the State of Georgia:
A notary public shall maintain a written or electronic journal for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer
A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s initial (new) appointment
A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s renewal of a current appointment
A notary public applicant will be provided a certificate upon successful completion of the training course
A notary public applicant must include the certificate of completion with the notary application to the Clerk of Superior Court
The approved notary educational training course will be available December 1, 2024 and will be housed on the Authority eLearn site, https://elearn.gsccca.org/home/index.php .
