How to Become a Notary Public After 50

Helping with legal documents can be a flexible way to earn extra income

Gwen Moran,

AARP

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En español

Published April 26, 2024

a woman reviewing and stamping important documents

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When you sign some important documents, you may be required to have the document notarized. This means signing it in the presence — virtual or in person — of a notary public, an individual appointed by the state who certifies identity to protect against fraud.

New Jersey resident Erin Taddei became a notary public eight years ago when she was 45. “I like helping people, and I saw all over social media that people were constantly looking for a notary public,” she says. “Honestly, I didn’t fully understand what a notary public did, so I researched a little bit. Then, I looked into [becoming one]. I thought, ‘This is something that could really provide real-time help to somebody who really needs one.’”

If you like helping people with important legal paperwork and processes, becoming a notary public can be a way to earn extra income and provide a valuable service to the community, all while keeping flexible hours.

What does a notary public do?

Demand for notaries public and their services is high. There were approximately 4.44 million of them in the U.S. in 2022, according to the latest numbers available from the National Notary Association, a membership organization.

Notaries are public officials who act as impartial witnesses when people sign various legal documents. They ensure that the person signing is really who they say they are and that they understand the contents of the documents they are signing. Notaries also help make sure the person is not signing the paperwork under pressure or duress, and the notaries record the details of the signing. Property deeds, mortgage documents, wills, and other estate planning documents are some agreements and forms that typically need notarization.

Often, people who work in finance or business may apply to become a notary public to better serve customers. “[If you are] an accountant or a bank teller or an administrative assistant you may become a notary in addition to that [teller position] to serve clients or customers or an internal need,” says Phillip Browne, vice president of communications of the National Notary Association. “In that context, it is a really good thing to have on your résumé. It's a skill set that helps you become more valuable in your job.”

Best of all, adults of any age can do the work of a notary. If you’re interested in becoming a notary public after age 50, here are some of the basic steps you need to follow to do so.

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1. Check your state’s requirements to become a notary

Each of the 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam have their own requirements to become a notary public. Browne suggests contacting the office of the secretary of state for your state, which is generally the governing body that oversees notaries public, for more information. The National Notary Association publishes the requirements for each state. Notaries may perform notarizations only within the state or territory in which they have been commissioned.

Generally, to become a notary public, you need to be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the state in which you plan to practice notary services, and not have a criminal record. An application and filing fee are required. Some states require that you take a class and/or pass an exam, and some require a background check. The state with the toughest test, as measured by passing rate, is New York. Seventy percent of people who take the test there pass it, according to Notary Class Online, an online notary education website.

2. Understand the services notaries provide

The services notaries provide typically fall into a few categories:

Acknowledgments: This type of service is the verification of a person who is signing a document. The notary public certifies that the signer’s identity has been verified and that the person has signed the document willingly and is aware of its content and terms.
Jurats: This service also involves identity verification and witnessing a signature, but the document signer also takes an oath affirming that the information in the document is true. This might include depositions, judicial affidavits and the like.
Verbal oaths: When people need to be sworn in to an official position or post, a notary can be hired to take someone’s oath.

In addition, a notary signing agent is specially trained to handle real estate finance documents, which contain sensitive personal information, during the mortgage closing process. Most lenders and title companies require notary signing agents to undergo an annual background screening to meet compliance requirements.

Some notaries perform mobile services, where they go to the person needing notarization. And, since the pandemic, Browne says there has been an increase in remote notarizations, where notaries perform their services via videoconferencing. Taddei has worked with clients via FaceTime.

3. Know how notaries earn money

Some people become commissioned as notaries as a side gig or add-on to an existing job. For example, if you work at a company or organization where documents often need to be notarized, it may be useful for an employee to become a notary. For those who plan to charge for the service, notary fees are generally set by the state or territory in which they are commissioned, ranging from as low as $2 to as much as $25 per signature page. Ten states and Puerto Rico do not regulate the fees notaries may charge.

According to a 2020 survey from the National Notary Association, among those working full-time as a mobile notary, more than half were earning $2,000 per month or more. Nearly 30 percent of those working part-time as a mobile notary were earning more than $1,000 per month.

Notaries also may sometimes charge for travel expenses, but those amounts may be regulated as well. The National Notary Association publishes a schedule of fees. Notary signing agents generally may charge more for services like their time, mileage and administrative costs unless restricted by their state. Some notaries have made up to six figures annually, depending on where they live, the clients they are able to cultivate, and the state of the real estate market and refinance activity, Browne says. Again, state regulations vary and some states may have limitations on notary signing agent fees or services, so be sure to research those for the state in which you plan to be commissioned.

Notaries will have certain business expenses, including commission application and renewal fees as well as supplies, like a seal and record book, generally called a notary journal. Notaries may also be required to purchase a surety bond depending on their state and may opt to purchase errors and omissions insurance, which can help protect them from liability.

4. Get the word out

Once you apply for your notary public commission and complete the requirements, you’ll need to work on building your business. You can choose to actively promote your business as a side hustle or even a full-time gig. Browne recommends registering with Find a Notary, a service sponsored by the National Notary Association to help people and businesses find notaries public. You may also promote your services through social media, email marketing, ads on local media and word of mouth.

Becoming a notary public can be a way to add value to your current role within an organization or it could be a way to earn additional money while you provide a valuable service to the community.

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Gwen Moran is a contributing writer for AARP who specializes in business and finance. Her work has appeared in many leading business publications and websites, including Entrepreneur, Kiplinger.com, Newsweek.com and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.