How do I become a notary public in Georgia?

To become a Georgia notary public: (1) Complete a 4-hour notary education course from a GSCCCA-approved provider — this is required before applying for your first commission. (2) Obtain a $500 surety bond from an insurance company. (3) Submit your application and bond to the Superior Court Clerk's office in your county of residence or principal business, along with the application fee. (4) Take the oath of office before the Clerk. (5) Obtain your notary seal (embosser or inked stamp). Your commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal applications must be filed with the same county court before your commission expires.

Can a Georgia notary notarize for family members?

Georgia law does not technically prohibit notarizing for family members, but it creates a conflict of interest and is strongly discouraged by the GSCCCA. A notary should refuse to notarize any document in which they have a financial or personal interest, including documents that benefit immediate family members. If a challenge arises later, the notarization may be called into question and the notary could face liability. As a practical rule, notaries should decline to notarize for spouses, parents, children, and siblings — and refer them to another notary to protect the integrity of the notarial act.

What is the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat?

These are the two most common notarial acts: An acknowledgment means the signer appeared before the notary and declared (acknowledged) that they signed the document voluntarily. The signer does not need to sign in front of the notary — they can sign beforehand and then appear to acknowledge their signature. A jurat (or verification upon oath) means the signer appeared before the notary, signed the document in the notary's presence, and swore under oath (or affirmed) that the contents of the document are true. Affidavits always require a jurat. The notarial certificate wording is different for each — using the wrong certificate is a notarial error.

What is Remote Online Notarization (RON) and can Georgia notaries use it?

Yes — Georgia authorized Remote Online Notarization (RON) effective July 1, 2020. RON allows a Georgia notary to perform notarial acts via audio-visual technology when the signer is not physically present in the same room. Requirements: (1) The notary must use a GSCCCA-approved RON platform. (2) The signer's identity must be verified through knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis. (3) The entire session must be recorded and stored. (4) The notary must attach a digital certificate to the electronic document. RON is particularly useful for real estate transactions, legal documents, and when parties are in different locations. The notary must still be commissioned in Georgia, but the signer can be anywhere.

Georgia Notary Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026 October)

Free Georgia Notary practice test with questions and answer explanations. 🧠 Prepare for the 2026 October exam with instant scoring.

GA Notary - Georgia Notary ExamOct 5, 20268 min read

Georgia Notary Practice Test PDF – Free Printable GA Notary Exam Prep

Preparing for the Georgia notary public application and exam? A printable Georgia notary practice test PDF gives you an offline format to review Georgia notary law, notarial acts, electronic notarization, journal requirements, and the legal and ethical responsibilities that Georgia notaries public must understand. Studying GA notary laws on paper reinforces the statutory knowledge the Georgia Secretary of State requires. This page provides a free PDF download and a comprehensive guide to Georgia notary requirements.

Georgia notaries public are commissioned by the Georgia Superior Court Clerk in the county where they reside or maintain a principal place of business. The Georgia Notary Public Act (O.C.G.A. Title 45, Chapter 17) governs all notarial acts in Georgia. Notaries must complete a four-hour notary education course approved by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) before receiving their commission.

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What Georgia Notary Applicants Need to Know

Your Georgia notary practice test PDF covers all major topics tested in the required notary education course and application process.

Notarial Acts in Georgia

Georgia notaries may perform the following notarial acts: acknowledgments (the signer personally appears and declares they signed the document voluntarily), jurats/verifications (the signer personally appears, signs in the notary's presence, and swears under oath that the contents are true — notary administers oath), copy certifications (certifying that a photocopy is a true copy of an original document — Georgia notaries cannot certify copies of vital records), and administering oaths and affirmations (for affidavits, depositions, and other sworn statements). Georgia law requires personal appearance for all notarial acts — remote acts require specific RON authorization.

Identification Requirements

Before performing any notarial act, a Georgia notary must verify the signer's identity. Acceptable identification includes: government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID), personal knowledge (the notary personally knows the signer from prior acquaintance), or credible identifying witness (a person who personally knows both the signer and the notary can vouch for the signer's identity when the signer lacks ID). The notary must describe the ID used in the notarial certificate. Refusing to notarize when proper ID cannot be established is both legal and required.

Completing Notarial Certificates

Georgia notaries must complete a notarial certificate for every notarial act. The certificate must include: the venue (state and county where the notarization occurs), the date of notarization, the notary's official signature, the notary's official seal (Georgia notaries must use an embosser seal or inked stamp), and the notary's commission expiration date. Incomplete certificates are legally defective. The notary cannot backdate certificates or complete the certificate before the signer appears. If a document has a pre-printed certificate with the wrong state or type of notarial act, the notary must ensure it is corrected before signing.

Prohibited Acts and Liability

Georgia notaries are prohibited from: notarizing when the signer is not personally present (except authorized RON), notarizing their own signature, notarizing for immediate family members (creates conflict of interest), practicing law (drafting legal documents, giving legal advice — unless the notary is also a licensed attorney), and charging fees exceeding the statutory limit. Georgia law does not set a fee maximum, but notaries must disclose fees in advance. Notarial misconduct can result in commission revocation, civil liability, and criminal charges for willful fraud. Notaries are personally liable for errors and omissions — errors and omissions insurance is available but not required.

Electronic and Remote Online Notarization

Georgia authorized Remote Online Notarization (RON) effective July 1, 2020. RON allows notaries to perform notarial acts using audio-visual technology when the signer is not physically present. Georgia RON requires: identity proofing (knowledge-based authentication + credential analysis), an audio-visual recording of the session, use of a GSCCCA-approved RON platform, and a digital certificate attached to the electronic document. After this PDF, take online GA Notary practice tests at georgia notary for instant scored feedback.

Start Practice Test

✓Know the three ways to verify signer identity: government ID, personal knowledge, or credible witness
✓Understand acknowledgment vs. jurat: acknowledgment = voluntary signature; jurat = signer swears contents are true
✓Review required certificate elements: venue, date, signature, seal, commission expiration date
✓Know prohibited acts: notarizing absent signers, own signatures, immediate family (conflict of interest)
✓Study Georgia seal requirements: must use embosser or inked stamp — electronic seal for RON
✓Review copy certification limits: Georgia notaries cannot certify copies of vital records (birth/marriage/death)
✓Know RON requirements: identity proofing, A/V recording, GSCCCA-approved platform, digital certificate
✓Understand the education requirement: 4-hour course before first commission — GSCCCA-approved providers
✓Study the $500 bond requirement: surety bond filed with Superior Court Clerk upon commissioning
✓Know commission term: 4 years, filed in county of residence or principal business — must renew timely

Free Georgia Notary Practice Tests Online

After completing this PDF, take full online Georgia notary practice tests at georgia notary — instant scoring across notarial acts, identification requirements, certificate completion, prohibited acts, and RON with explanations for every answer. Use both: PDF for offline law review and study, online for interactive timed practice that simulates the GSCCCA notary education exam format.

Sample Georgia Notary Exam Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Georgia Notary Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

What is a notary's duty if they are presented with a document that they believe to be fraudulent?
- A. Proceed with the notarization if requested
- B. Refuse to notarize the document
- C. Sign the document but mark it as "fraudulent"
- D. Report the document to a higher authority

Answer: B. Refuse to notarize the document

Notaries have a duty to protect against fraud and must refuse to notarize any document they believe to be fraudulent or suspicious. Notarizing a fraudulent document would compromise the integrity of the notarial act and could implicate the notary in illegal activity. It is essential to err on the side of caution and refuse service to uphold the notary's ethical and legal obligations.

A person asks a Georgia notary to certify a copy of their birth certificate. Which of the following is the correct action for the notary to take?

A. Certify the copy after making a photocopy of the original document.
B. Refuse to certify the copy and direct the person to the issuing vital records agency.
C. Certify the copy only if the person signs an affidavit stating it is a true copy.
D. Make a certified copy but add a disclaimer that the notary is not a government official.

Answer: B. Refuse to certify the copy and direct the person to the issuing vital records agency.

Georgia notaries are prohibited from making certified copies of public records or documents for which certified copies can be obtained from an official source, such as a vital records agency. The proper procedure is to refer the person to the appropriate government office.

A notary discovers after completing a notarization that they had an undisclosed financial interest in the document. What is the correct course of action?

A. Do nothing since the notarization is already complete
B. Notify the parties and consider whether the act should be voided or redone by a disinterested notary
C. Cross out their signature and stamp from the document
D. File an amended journal entry removing the conflict

Answer: B. Notify the parties and consider whether the act should be voided or redone by a disinterested notary

Discovering a post-act conflict requires notifying all affected parties so they can seek proper remediation, potentially including a new notarization.

Which piece of information is required to appear on a Georgia notary public's official seal?

A. The notary's social security number
B. The notary's commission expiration date
C. The notary's home address
D. The notary's telephone number

Answer: B. The notary's commission expiration date

Georgia law requires the notary's commission expiration date to appear on the official seal along with the notary's name, county, and 'Notary Public, State of Georgia.'

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