You Can Be A Notary Public
A notary public is a public official who can make certain papers and contracts legal. You take your paperwork to the notary, who can be found in places like banks or city offices, and sign the paperwork in front of them. The notary public will then sign the paperwork and use their official seal to emboss it to prove that you signed the paperwork in front of them and that you are who you say you are. In some states, notary publics are even able to perform marriage ceremonies. If you want to become a notary public, you have to make sure that you follow all the necessary steps.
State Requirements
While some things are universal across all the states, your state may have additional requirements. Some states may require you to go through a training course to get information that can help you when you become a notary. Generally, if there is a training course requirement, it won't be a long course, so it shouldn't be a hardship for you to take. Even if your state doesn't require one of these courses, but they are on offer, you might want to take advantage of them.
Application
You will need to fill out an application to become a notary. Since this is a state certification, you will need to get the application from state offices. Your state's official website may also have an application you can download and print out. You will need to make sure that you fill out all fields to the best of your ability. You may have to produce witnesses or references, and those people may have the requirements they need to meet. For example, the state may require that one of your references is a registered voter in your state.
Background Check
Since the position of a notary public is an official one licensed by the state, you will likely need to run a criminal background check and have your fingerprints taken. You can arrange for those things to happen in your local police department. There may be a nominal fee that will cover the search.
If you want to become a notary public, you need to make sure that you check all the requirements so that you can get your application approved by the state. Once everything has been approved, you will be issued your seal and the power and responsibility that goes along with it.