Georgia Notary Requirements

O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8(e) (identity verification; HB 1292 eff. 1/1/2025, as amended): In performing any notarial act, a notary public shall confirm the identity of the document signer, oath taker, or affirmant by verification of a government issued photo identification document, including without limitation a valid driver's license, personal identification card authorized under Code Sections 40-5-100 through 40-5-104, or a military identification card such as a Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or based on personal knowledge.

O.C.G.A. SS 50-36-2(b)(1) (Secure and verifiable identity document). (A) As used in this Code section, the term 'secure and verifiable document' means a document issued by a state or federal jurisdiction or recognized by the United States government and that is verifiable by federal or state law enforcement, intelligence, or homeland security agencies. (B) The term 'secure and verifiable document' shall not include any foreign passport unless the passport is submitted with a valid United States Homeland Security Form I-94, I-94A, or I-94W, or other federal document specifying an alien's lawful immigration status, or other proof of lawful presence in the United States under federal immigration law, or a Matricula Consular de Alta Seguridad, matricula consular card, consular matriculation card, consular identification card, or similar identification card issued by a foreign government regardless of the holder's immigration status.

Georgia's secure-and-verifiable-document law (O.C.G.A. 50-36-2) overlays identification presented for official purposes: a foreign passport qualifies only when accompanied by federal proof of lawful presence, and consular identification cards are excluded entirely. Whether that regime binds an individual notary is not squarely settled; the conditions shown reflect the conservative reading honoring both statutes.

O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8(g) (SELF-FILER JOURNAL - added by HB 1292, eff. Jan. 1, 2025; CONDITIONAL): (g)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'self-filer' shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section 44-2-2. (2) A notary public shall maintain a written or electronic journal which shall include an entry for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer. Each such entry shall include the name of the self-filer; the self-filer's address; the self-filer's telephone number; the date, time, and location of notarization; the type of government issued photo identification document presented by the self-filer, unless the identity of the self-filer was confirmed based on personal knowledge; elements of such identification document, if applicable, including any identifying number; the self-filer's signature; and the type of document presented for notarization. 'Self-filer' (O.C.G.A. § 44-2-2(a)) = a party to a deed, mortgage, lien, map/plat, or state tax execution/renewal who is NOT an attorney/title agent/licensed-profession/bank or lender agent/servicer agent/government employee/licensed land surveyor.

O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11 (FEES OF NOTARIES): (a) The fees of notaries public shall be as follows: (1) Administering an oath in any case... $2.00; (2) Each attendance on any person to make proof as a notary public and certifying to same... $2.00; (3) Every other certificate... $2.00. (b) It shall not be lawful for any notary public to charge a greater sum than $4.00 for each service performed. Said sum shall include a fee of $2.00 for performing the notarial act and a fee of $2.00 for an attendance to make proof as a notary public and certifying to same if such certification, which shall be issued by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the notary public was appointed or the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, is required. Registering shall be paid for by the party who has the service performed. The fee for all official acts which the notary may perform shall be the same as those prescribed for other officers who are likewise permitted to perform them. (c) A notary public need not charge fees for notarial acts. (d) A notary public shall inform the person requesting any notarial act, prior to performing the act, the fees permitted for each act.