How to Become a Notary in Mississippi

How do I renew my notary commission in Mississippi?

To renew your Mississippi notary commission, you must submit a notary application to be recommissioned sixty days prior to the expiration of your existing commission and must follow the same procedures required for a new notary appointment.

Who appoints notaries in Mississippi?

The governor of Mississippi technically appoints Mississippi notaries public, and the secretary of state administers the notary application process, maintains all the records pertaining to these notaries, and authenticates their acts.

The Mississippi Secretary of State can be contacted at:

Secretary of State
Business Services Division
P.O. Box 136
Jackson, MS 39205-0136
Toll-free: 800-256-3494
Phone: 601-359-1615
Fax: 601-576-1310
Website: https://www.sos.ms.gov/business-services/notaries-apostilles

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

No. A notary applicant who is not a resident of Mississippi cannot qualify for a Mississippi notary public commission.

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

The term of office of a Mississippi notary public is four years commencing on the date specified in the commission certificate. However, a notary’s commission may be rendered void:

1. By resignation, death, or revocation.
2. When the notary public ceases to reside in Mississippi.
3. When the notary public has been convicted of a felony or been found to have engaged in official misconduct, misfeasance, or malfeasance in Mississippi or any other state.

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

No. Mississippi state law does not require a course of study or examination to become a notary public in the state of Mississippi.

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

To become a notary public in Mississippi, you must pay the following:

1. A $25 application fee for processing the notary application.
2. A fee to have your notary application notarized.
3. The cost of a $5,000 Mississippi notary bond.
4. A fee to have your notary bond notarized.

Other expenses include the cost of purchasing:

1. A Mississippi notary stamp.
2. A Mississippi notary journal.
3. An errors and omissions insurance policy to protect yourself in the event you are sued for unintentional mistakes or a false claim is filed against you as a notary. (This step is optional.)

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

A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is optional in Mississippi and is not required to become a Mississippi notary public or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Mississippi 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 Mississippi notary public.

You can order a Mississippi notary errors and omissions insurance policy online at the American Association of Notaries website at https://www.mississippinotary.com/notary-insurance.

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

Yes. You must order a notary bond to become a notary in Mississippi or to renew your Mississippi notary commission. The notary bond shall be in the amount of $5,000 and must be issued by a surety or other entity licensed by the Mississippi Department of Insurance.

You can order a four-year Mississippi notary bond online at the American Association of Notaries website at https://www.mississippinotary.com/mississippi-notary-bond.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Mississippi?

Yes. Every time you perform a notarial act, you must affix an inked notary stamp impression on the notarial certificate you complete. A notary embosser can only be used along with an inked notary stamp. The Mississippi notary stamp must show all the following clearly and in the following order:

1. The words “State of Mississippi.”
2. The notary public’s name as it appears on the commission.
3. The words “Notary Public.”
4. The name of the county in which the notary public maintains an office.
5. The notary public's current commission expiration date.
6. The notary public’s commission identification number assigned by the secretary of state.

The official notary stamp must not contain the Mississippi state seal.

To order a Mississippi notary stamp, notary seal, notary package, and notary supplies, please visit the American Association of Notaries website at https://www.mississippinotary.com/notary-stamps.

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

A notarial officer may charge a fee for services rendered unless otherwise prohibited by law or by rules promulgated by the secretary of state. The fees charged may not exceed the following amounts:

1. For acknowledgments: $5 per signature.
2. For oaths or affirmations without a signature: $5 per person.
3. For jurats: $5 per signature.
4. For witnessing a signature: $5 per signature.

Note: A notary public may charge a travel fee when traveling to perform a notarial act, if:

1. The notary and the person requesting the notarial act agree upon the travel fee in advance of the travel.
2. The notary explains to the person requesting the notarial act that the travel fee is both separate from the notarial fee and neither specified nor mandated by law.  

Is a notary journal required in Mississippi?

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 and fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.

 

Notary journal requirements in Mississippi for traditional notarizations and electronic notarizations – A Mississippi notary is required to record each notarial act in a journal. The journal can be maintained on a tangible medium or in an electronic format.

 

The American Association of Notaries offers a wide variety of notary journals.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

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

What information must Mississippi notaries record in their notary journals?

For Traditional and Electronic Notarizations - Mississippi notaries are required to chronicle the following information in their notary journals:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. A description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act.
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 and the identification credential presented, if any, including the date of issuance and expiration of any identification credential.
6. The address (city and state only) where the notarial act was performed if not the notary’s business address.
7. The fee, if any, charged by the notary public.

Optional entries:

1. The signature of the individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
2. Any additional information about a specific transaction that might assist the notary public to recall the transaction.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Mississippi?

Once you are commissioned as a Mississippi notary public, you are authorized to perform notarial acts throughout the state of Mississippi. While you may notarize in any county within Mississippi, your official notary seal must show your residence county in Mississippi.

Mississippi notaries public may not perform notarial acts if they are physically outside the geographical borders of the state of Mississippi or in other states or jurisdictions unless authorized by the other states or jurisdictions to perform such acts.

What notarial acts can a Mississippi notary public perform?

A notarial officer may perform the following notarial acts:

1. Take acknowledgments.
2. Administer oaths and affirmations.
3. Take verifications on oath or affirmation.
4. Certify depositions of witnesses.
5. Witness or attest signatures.
6. Make or note a protest of a negotiable instrument.
7. Make an affidavit regarding the truth of any witnesses or attested signatures in question along with any corrected language, and, if the authenticity or correctness of language affects real property, file the same in the land records in the office of the chancery clerk where the land is located.
8. Any other acts so authorized by the law of this state.

Can I perform electronic notarizations in Mississippi?

Yes. You can perform in-person electronic notarizations in Mississippi. The Revised Mississippi Laws on Notarial Acts (Mississippi Code of 1972 as amended, Part 5, Chapter 1) includes electronic notarization provisions. A Mississippi notary public who wishes to perform electronic notarization must use an electronic notarization system that meets the requirements of the act and these rules (Section 25-34-51 et seq. Mississippi Code of 1972 as amended) and must:

1. Hold a current and unrestricted commission.
2. Submit an additional application on a form prescribed by the secretary of state for performing in-person electronic notarial acts.
3. Receive proof that the additional application to perform in-person electronic notarial acts has been approved by the secretary of state.

What is the process to become a Mississippi electronic notary public?

To become an electronic notary in Mississippi, you must:

1. Hold a current and unrestricted commission.
2. Submit an additional application for performing in-person electronic notarial acts on the secretary of state’s website at https://www.sos.ms.gov/e-notary-registration
3. Receive proof that the additional application to perform in-person electronic notarial acts has been approved by the secretary of state.

Can I perform remote online notarizations in Mississippi?

No. Currently, Mississippi notaries public are prohibited from performing remote notarizations.

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

If your residential, business, or mailing address information on file with the secretary of state changes, you are required to notify the secretary of state by completing and mailing them the Application for Change of Notary Address form along with the $20 filing fee within thirty days of the change.

If you move to a new county, obtain a new notary stamp showing your new county of residence.

Click here to download the Application for Change of Notary Address form.

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

If your notary name on file changes during your notary commission term, you are required to notify the Mississippi Secretary of State. Mail an Application for Change of Notary Name form, along with a copy of your marriage license, divorce decree, court order, or any other evidence of the name change, the bond rider, and a filing fee of $20 to the secretary of state.

You may continue using the former name when performing notarial acts until you receive a new notary commission certificate. You can obtain a new Mississippi notary stamp bearing your new name at that point.

Click here to download the Application for Change of Notary Name form.

Revised:

January 2023