Here's a link to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority, which recently allowed notary commission applications to be made online in counties such as Hall.
The embossed seal of the notary public is used by more people than you might think.
Last year 4,000 notary commissions were made in Hall County, allowing people to stamp their seal on a variety of documents, from affidavits to powers of attorney, from real estate deeds to passport information. Only three other counties in Georgia have more commissioned notaries, according to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority.
The seal of the notary generally confirms and legitimizes the identity of the signature on a legal document.
Now getting a notary commission just got a lot easier, thanks to the Internet.
The Hall County Clerk of Courts office now is processing online applications for notary publics, cutting down on paperwork and making the process a lot faster, said Rosa Gallaga, a deputy clerk who sees as many as 10 notary applicants each day. "It’s more efficient," Gallaga said. "Before, people might have to wait a week, a week and a half."
Applicants must still come in to the clerk’s office to take the oath in person and pay the commission fee. But all the paperwork can now be done online beforehand.
The online service has eliminated printing and mailing costs, Hall County Clerk of Court Charles Baker said.
People who apply for a notary commission in Hall County must be at least 18 years of age, be a resident of the county and be of good moral character. They must have two non-relative references, or "endorsers," who are also county residents.
The online notary service comes after the clerk’s office recently began allowing people to pay their traffic citations online.
Baker said staffers are looking at putting other clerk’s office functions on the Internet. "We’re still working on some things," Baker said.