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Becoming a Notary Public has never been easier. All of your State's Contact Information is listed for your reference and review. Scroll down and you will find your State's Qualifications and easy to follow Application Procedures.

Thanks for allowing the Notary Learning Center to help you in becoming a Notary Public.

Because the qualifications and requirements are different for each state, use the "Select another State" menu above for information specific to becoming a Notary Public in that State.

Contact Information:

State Contact: Secretary of State
Appointing Authority: Secretary of State

Secretary of State:
Office of Secretary of State
Index Department, Notary Division
111 East Monroe Street
Springfield, IL 62756

Telephone: 800-252-8980
Website: https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/notary/home.html

Qualifications

Applicants for the office of notary public must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 30 days or employed in the State of Illinois for at least 30 days
  • Be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence
  • Be able to read and write the English language
  • Have not been convicted of a felony
  • Have not had a notary commission revoked during the past 10 years

Term of Office
4 year appointment for Illinois residents. Out-of-state residents are appointed for a one-year term.

Appointment
Secretary of State

Notary Education
Recommended - not required

Notary Exam
Not required

Study Course
"Notary Public Education Course"
FREE when you purchase a Notary Supply Package at The Notary's Store

Bond
$5,000 (Ordered before filing your application)

Seal of Office
Rubber Stamp Seal with reproducible ink required by state law

Notary Journal
Officially recommended by the state

E & O insurance
Not required - Errors and Omissions Insurance is recommended for notary protection


Application Procedures

Step 1: Download and complete the Illinois Notary Public Application

The Illinois notary public application and bond form is available for download here: Illinois Notary Public Application
Please refer to Step 2 for ordering instructions.

The application includes detailed instructions regarding how it is to be completed. Please be sure to follow the instructions provided exactly. You may print the application and complete it or you may fill it out online and then print.

You will need to make arrangements to have a notary public take your acknowledgment under oath or affirmation that the information provided in the application is true. Your signature in the Oath portion of the Application will need to be notarized. The Find a Notary feature from Notary Rotary, Inc., can be helpful in locating a notary in your area to help process your application.

New and Renewing Notary Packages
New and Renewing Notary Packages
Renewing Notary Packages do not come with a notary journal

Our New and Renewal Notary Packages DO NOT include your required $5,000 Illinois Notary Bond with an included voucher redeemable for a $5,000 E&O policy. The State of Illinois requires purchasing your notary bond, which you will need to send along with your notary application.

Step 2: Order the $5,000 Illinois notary bond and application form.

Please visit The Notary's Store, you will be entering the Illinois section for your $5,000 Surety Bond (Is not included in the Supply Packages.) Included with your bond and application form is a redeemable voucher for a notary errors and omissions insurance policy. We offer a New Notary Supply Package and a Renewing Notary Supply Package which includes your Illinois Notary Seal/Stamp and officially recommended Illinois Notary Journal, and other needed notary supplies at a special reduced price, but you will need to order your required $5,000 Illinois Notary Bond separately. Illinois law does not require a notary to keep a record of his/her official acts, but it is recommended to do so. A log book or journal will offer an excellent way of recalling past notarial acts. If a notary is called upon to testify in court, a log book or journal may help establish what actually took place. The Illinois Notary Journal was specifically designed for this purpose, and contains many elements not available in other notary journals. To order, enter all required information and scroll down through the page to locate the notary packages, or you can purchase your notary supplies separately. Follow the onscreen instructions through checkout and your supplies will be sent to you as soon as your order is processed, and will be shipped in usually no more than 1 business day. Once you have your official bond be sure to make a copy of the actual bond for your records and you may proceed with step 3.

The application is also available online from Notary Rotary in $5000 surety bond. To order, enter the required information, scroll through the product page to locate the official surety bond and application form. Included with your bond and application form is a redeemable voucher for a notary errors and omissions insurance policy. Follow the instructions through checkout.

Step 3: Submit the completed Application, Bond Form and Surety Bond to the Office of the Secretary of State, Department of Index

The application includes detailed instructions. Please be sure to carefully follow the instructions provided.

You will need to contact a commissioned notary public in your area to witness and notarize your signature on the application. Notary Rotary's Find a Notary feature may be helpful in contacting a notary public. Simply click the link and enter your home ZIP code to find a list of notaries public in your area.

Submit your completed the application, surety bond and $10 filing fee to the following address:

Secretary of State,
Department of Index
111 E. Monroe Street
Springfield, IL 62756

If the Secretary of State approves your application, your commission will be issued. Your commission will be mailed to the county clerk of the county in which you reside. The appointment is not complete until the commission is recorded with the county clerk. The recording with the county clerk may be done in person or by mail. The county clerk will notify you of the procedure (Sec. 2-106.)

When the applicant has recorded his or her appointment with the County Clerk and has received the commission, the appointment is complete. The notary must then obtain an official seal and can perform notarial acts anywhere in the State of Illinois, as long as he or she continues to reside or work in the county in which he or she was commissioned.

After your commission is recorded with the county clerk and you have received it, you must then obtain an official seal. Go back to Step 3 and order from The Notary's Store.

Step 4: Receive your Illinois Notary Commission information and order the remainder of your supplies from The Notary's Store

Once you have all of your paperwork completed and have received your supplies you will be ready to begin your duties as a notary public for the State of Ilinois.


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