How to become a notary in Alabama
Eligibility, a course, a $50,000 bond, fees and the oath, in the order you'll do them — from the Judge of Probate of the applicant's county of residence (commission records reported to the Alabama Secretary of State).
Step by step
- Check that you qualify — 18 (unverified)+, Alabama resident; must apply to the judge of probate of the county where you live. No non-resident commission; Application is denied if the applicant has a felony or crime-of-moral-turpitude conviction, is currently a debtor in bankruptcy, is under an order adjudicating incapacity, gives false information, or cannot complete the required training within 30 days. The probate judge has discretion to accept or deny any application.
- Take the required notary course — Mandatory online training prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute (hosted at alpja.org), required since Sept 1, 2023 for new and renewing notaries. Must be completed within 30 days of applying. No enrollment fee. Licensed attorneys are exempt.
- Buy a $50,000 surety bond — $50,000 surety bond (raised from $25,000 by Act 2023-548) from an Alabama-licensed bond producer, payable to the State of Alabama; must be recorded with the probate court within 40 days of the letter of appointment.
- Complete the background check — Probate court staff check Alabama judicial records (Alacourt) and PACER for criminal cases and bankruptcy; SSN and driver license number required. No fingerprints.
- Apply to the Judge of Probate of the applicant's county of residence (commission records reported to the Alabama Secretary of State) — Pay the $10 state fee. Other fees: $25 commission issuance fee to the probate judge (Ala. Code 36-20-70) plus county recording/approval fees when the bond is recorded; e.g. Mobile County charges $43 total at recording ($25 commission + $10 recording + $5 bond approval + $1 + $2 local). Totals vary by county. Bond premium paid to the surety.
- Take the oath and file it — After approval the probate judge mails a letter of appointment; within 40 days obtain the $50,000 bond (signature on bond notarized), record it with the probate court together with the training certificate and pay the recording fees. The commission is then mailed; do not notarize before receiving it.
- Get your seal and journal — Seal: Required: seal of office (ink stamp or embosser) showing the notary's name, office and state. Journal: Recommended (not required by statute); remote notarizations must be recorded on video and kept 7 years.
Notary packages & supplies
- National Notary Association — state packages: bond, seal, journal and any required training
- Notaries.com — lower-cost state packages with bond, stamp and supplies
Bond, stamp and journal in one order; check that the package matches Alabama's rules. Some links may be affiliate links.
Alabama notary requirements
| Commissioned by | Judge of Probate of the applicant's county of residence (commission records reported to the Alabama Secretary of State) |
| Who can apply | 18 (unverified)+ · Alabama resident; must apply to the judge of probate of the county where you live. No non-resident commission. |
| Course | Required Mandatory online training prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute (hosted at alpja.org), required since Sept 1, 2023 for new and renewing notaries. Must be completed within 30 days of applying. No enrollment fee. Licensed attorneys are exempt. |
| Exam | Not required No state exam; the training issues a certificate of completion without a test. |
| State fee | $10 |
| Other fees | $25 commission issuance fee to the probate judge (Ala. Code 36-20-70) plus county recording/approval fees when the bond is recorded; e.g. Mobile County charges $43 total at recording ($25 commission + $10 recording + $5 bond approval + $1 + $2 local). Totals vary by county. Bond premium paid to the surety. |
| Surety bond | $50,000 $50,000 surety bond (raised from $25,000 by Act 2023-548) from an Alabama-licensed bond producer, payable to the State of Alabama; must be recorded with the probate court within 40 days of the letter of appointment. |
| E&O insurance | Optional |
| Background check | Probate court staff check Alabama judicial records (Alacourt) and PACER for criminal cases and bankruptcy; SSN and driver license number required. No fingerprints. |
| Term | 4 years |
| Oath / filing | After approval the probate judge mails a letter of appointment; within 40 days obtain the $50,000 bond (signature on bond notarized), record it with the probate court together with the training certificate and pay the recording fees. The commission is then mailed; do not notarize before receiving it. |
| Seal | Required: seal of office (ink stamp or embosser) showing the notary's name, office and state. |
| Journal | Recommended (not required by statute); remote notarizations must be recorded on video and kept 7 years. |
| Max fee per notarization | Up to $10 per notarial act (raised from $5 by Act 2023-548); public employees may not charge for acts performed as part of their job. |
| Remote online notary | Allowed No separate commission. Any Alabama notary physically in Alabama may notarize via two-way audio-video; the session must be recorded and kept 7 years; ID via personal knowledge or two government IDs plus identity verification. Cannot be used for absentee ballot documents or voting purposes (Ala. Code 36-20-73.1). |
| Renewal | No automatic renewal: reapply to the county probate judge with a new application, $10 fee, the mandatory training (required for every renewal), a new $50,000 bond and recording fees. |
Alabama is one of the few states where county probate judges, not the Secretary of State, appoint notaries. Act 2023-548 (effective Sept 1, 2023) added mandatory training, a uniform statewide application, the $10 application fee, a $25 commission fee, a $50,000 bond, a $10 per-act fee cap, and criminal penalties for notary misconduct. Jurisdiction is statewide.
Sources: Alabama Secretary of State - Notaries Public · Act 2023-548 (SB322) text · Alabama uniform Application for Notary Public Commission (APJA) · Mobile County Probate Court - Notary Public. Checked 2026-10. Values marked verify haven't been confirmed against an official source yet.
Earn more as a loan signing agent
Many notaries add mortgage closings: title and escrow companies pay signing agents per loan package. It needs a notary commission plus signing-agent training and a background screening.
- Loan Signing System — loan signing agent training to earn from mortgage closings ($347)
- NNA Notary Signing Agent certification — the certification and background screening title companies ask for
- Notaries.com signing agent course — budget signing agent course ($109)
Some links may be affiliate links.
Get a Alabama notary checklist and renewal reminder
A printable checklist of every step and an email before your commission expires. Free.
Notary course and exam rules across the US
Other Alabama licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Alabama insurance licenses · Mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
Questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in Alabama?
The state fee is $10, plus $25 commission issuance fee to the probate judge (Ala. Code 36-20-70) plus county recording/approval fees when the bond is recorded; e.g. Mobile County charges $43 total at recording ($25 commission + $10 recording + $5 bond approval + $1 + $2 local). Totals vary by county. Bond premium paid to the surety.. Add the premium for the $50,000 bond, the course, a seal and a journal.
How long does it take to become a notary in Alabama?
Usually a few weeks from application to commission, plus the time for the course and exam.
Do I need to take a class or exam to be a notary in Alabama?
Alabama requires a course, a $50,000 bond.
How much can a notary charge in Alabama?
Up to $10 per notarial act (raised from $5 by Act 2023-548); public employees may not charge for acts performed as part of their job..
Can I be an online notary in Alabama?
Yes. No separate commission. Any Alabama notary physically in Alabama may notarize via two-way audio-video; the session must be recorded and kept 7 years; ID via personal knowledge or two government IDs plus identity verification. Cannot be used for absentee ballot documents or voting purposes (Ala. Code 36-20-73.1).