07/06/2026
Please read the below if you are a notary or are considering becoming a notary. Notaries are commissioned out of the Clerk of Superior Court's Office in their county of residence. Notaries can also be suspended and can have their notary revoked. In Decatur County, if you get your notary revoked, you usually won't meet the criteria to get it back.
Georgia Notaries: Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
Being a notary public isn't about helping people "get it done." It's about protecting the integrity of the documents you notarize.
Some situations are clearly prohibited by law. Others fall into a gray area. Professional notaries know the difference and avoid both.
Don't notarize for close family.
Georgia law does not expressly prohibit notarizing for relatives. However, doing so can create the appearance of bias or a conflict of interest.
If another notary is available, let them handle it.
If the document is ever challenged, your relationship with the signer may become an issue—even if you did everything correctly.
Don't notarize for your best friend who "just needs a favor."
When emotions are high, divorces are pending, estates are disputed, or lawsuits are brewing, stay out of it.
If you're being asked to notarize because you're "the only one they trust," that's often a sign you shouldn't be the notary.
A professional notary remains completely impartial.
Never notarize a signature unless the signer is physically present.
This is one of the most fundamental rules of notarization.
No exceptions because they're:
your spouse,
your boss,
your pastor,
your neighbor,
or because you've known them for 30 years.
If the signer isn't in front of you, don't notarize.
Don't notarize a signature that was already signed.
For an acknowledgment, the signer may acknowledge to you that the existing signature is theirs, so Georgia law can permit notarization without watching the signature being made. However, unless you are certain the notarization requested is an acknowledgment and all legal requirements are met, the safest practice is to have the signer sign—or re-sign—in your presence.
If you're unsure what type of notarial act is required, stop and ask questions or decline the notarization.
Never notarize a blank or incomplete document.
If important information is missing, someone could fill it in after you've notarized it.
A professional notary waits until the document is complete before notarizing.
Don't guess someone's identity.
"I've seen him around."
"I know his mother."
"He works with my cousin."
None of those establish identity.
If you cannot identify the signer through personal knowledge or satisfactory identification, don't notarize.
Don't tell people what document they need.
Notaries are not attorneys.
You can explain what a notarial certificate says.
You cannot advise someone:
which form to use,
which affidavit to complete,
what type of deed they need,
or whether a document will accomplish their legal goal.
That's legal advice.
Don't backdate or postdate a notarization.
The date on the certificate should reflect the date the notarization actually occurred.
Never change the date to accommodate a filing deadline or "help someone out."
Don't let someone pressure you.
You may hear:
"It's just this once."
"Everybody does it."
"It has to be filed today."
"No one will ever know."
The answer should always be the same:
No.
Your commission is worth more than someone's convenience.
The Professional Rule
Whenever you find yourself asking,
"I wonder if this is okay..."
that's often a signal to slow down.
Professional notaries know that declining one questionable notarization is far easier than explaining one improper notarization to a judge, investigator, or law enforcement officer later.
When in doubt, don't notarize until you're certain the law permits it and you can complete the notarization correctly.
