NOTARY ACADEMY
Alabama Notary Education & Professional Development
Alabama requires most new and renewing notaries to complete mandatory training before commissioning. But completing that requirement is only the beginning of understanding how to perform notarial acts responsibly.
Whether you're preparing for your first commission, renewing your appointment, or developing a notary business, Notary Academy provides ongoing education, practical learning, and professional development to help you strengthen your skills, judgment, and business practices.
Where Are You in Your Alabama Notary Career?
Preparing to Become a Notary
You're learning Alabama's eligibility requirements, completing the county probate court application, preparing for the required training, and understanding the surety-bond and commissioning process.
Commissioned, But Still Finding Your Footing
You've received your commission, but now you're navigating identification questions, unfamiliar documents, notarial certificates, signer concerns, and decisions that require professional judgment.
Ready to Build a Stronger Business
You want to become more visible in your community, develop professional relationships, establish reliable client procedures, and build a business that operates within Alabama's notary laws.
Wherever you are today, your next step should support what you're actually trying to accomplish.
Understanding Alabama Notary Requirements
Alabama notaries public are appointed and commissioned by the probate judges of their respective counties under Alabama Code §§ 36-20-70 through 36-20-75.
The Alabama Secretary of State maintains statewide notary commission records and provides information about the laws governing the office.
Alabama establishes requirements for eligibility, commissioning, mandatory training, surety bonds, official seals, identification, notarial acts, and professional conduct.
Recent legislation has also strengthened the rules governing remote notarization and a notary's responsibility to recognize potentially fraudulent or coercive transactions.
Becoming an Alabama Notary Public
Alabama applicants must reside in the state and apply to the probate judge in the county where they reside.
The law establishes grounds for denying an application, including a felony conviction or conviction involving moral turpitude, current bankruptcy proceedings, an existing adjudication of incapacity, false information, or failure to complete the required training.
Applicants must complete the official Application for Notary Public Commission developed by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and Alabama Law Institute.
The application is submitted to the appropriate county probate office with the required identification and applicable fees.
The statutory application fee is $10, although additional county filing or administrative fees may apply. Applicants should obtain the current total directly from their county probate office.
The probate judge reviews the application and determines whether the applicant satisfies the commissioning requirements.
Most applicants must complete the required training within 30 days after submitting their applications, although a probate judge may extend that period for good cause.
After approval, the applicant must obtain a $50,000 surety bond payable to the State of Alabama and record the bond with the probate court within the applicable 40-day period.
The applicant must also provide the training completion certificate unless exempt by law and pay the required commissioning and recording fees.
Once the probate judge completes the process, the applicant receives the notary commission.
An applicant must not begin performing notarial acts before receiving the commission.
Alabama notary commissions last four years. Although commissions are issued through individual counties, commissioned Alabama notaries have statewide notarial authority.
Alabama Mandatory Notary Education
Since September 1, 2023, Alabama has required most new notary applicants to complete a pre-commission training program.
The same training requirement applies to renewing notaries who must qualify under the revised commissioning law.
The training is prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute.
It addresses notarial responsibilities, state laws, identification, acknowledgments, official procedures, ethical duties, and appropriate professional conduct.
Alabama law exempts attorneys commissioned as notaries from this training requirement.
Applicants must successfully complete the prescribed training within 30 days after submitting their applications unless the probate judge grants an extension for good cause.
The Alabama Probate Judges Association provides the official training and completion certificate.
Alabama does not establish a separate statewide traditional commissioning examination comparable to those required in some other states.
Applicants must still successfully complete the prescribed training process.
Additional professional development through Notary Academy's Inner Circle does not replace Alabama's mandatory pre-commission course.
Alabama Notary Renewal
Alabama notary commissions last four years.
Renewal requires a new application through the probate judge of the county where the notary resides.
Applicants renewing under the current law must satisfy the applicable eligibility, training, bond, and commissioning requirements.
The required training applies to renewing notaries unless they qualify for the statutory attorney exemption.
The notary must obtain and record the required $50,000 bond for the new commission period and pay the applicable county fees.
The county probate office determines the specific filing procedures and documentation required for the application.
Notaries should contact their probate judge before expiration to confirm the local process and allow time for training, review, and bond filing.
An expired commission does not authorize continued performance of notarial acts.
Alabama Surety Bond and Official Seal Requirements
Alabama requires a $50,000 surety bond for a notary commission.
The bond must be payable to the State of Alabama and recorded with the appropriate probate court.
A surety bond provides a source of financial protection for persons injured by covered misconduct or failures of a commissioned notary.
The bond does not replace the notary's obligation to act honestly, carefully, and within the law.
Errors and omissions insurance is separate from a surety bond and is not a mandatory condition of obtaining an ordinary Alabama notary commission.
Alabama also requires an official notary seal.
Under Alabama Code § 36-20-72, the official seal must identify the notary's name, office, and the State of Alabama.
The seal may be applied using an authorized ink stamp or embossed impression.
The law also establishes specific requirements for instruments entered into public records, including certain notarized instruments filed in the court system.
Notaries must follow the applicable rules for signatures, acknowledgments, oaths, and the placement of the official seal.
The required seal is part of the notarial authentication process. It does not replace the notary's responsibilities to verify identity and complete the appropriate notarial act.
Alabama Notary Journals and Recordkeeping
Alabama does not impose a general statutory requirement that traditional notaries maintain a journal for ordinary in-person notarial acts.
However, the Alabama Probate Judges Association recommends keeping a journal as a professional safeguard.
A properly maintained journal may help document the date of an appointment, the individual involved, the type of notarial act, the identification method used, and other relevant circumstances.
Journalkeeping can be particularly useful when questions arise about a completed notarization.
The absence of a mandatory traditional journal does not eliminate other recordkeeping duties.
Remote notarization carries a separate statutory audiovisual recording requirement.
Under Alabama Code § 36-20-73.1, remote notarial communication must be recorded, and the notary must retain that recording for seven years.
Notaries must distinguish between recommended traditional journalkeeping and legally required remote audiovisual recordings.
Remote Notarization in Alabama
Alabama authorizes certain remotely performed acknowledgments through simultaneous, two-way audiovisual communication technology under Alabama Code § 36-20-73.1.
This authority has specific limitations and should not be confused with the remote online notarization systems used in other states.
Alabama's Remote Acknowledgment Procedure
The notary must be physically located within Alabama during the remote notarial act.
The process requires real-time communication that allows the notary and remotely located signer to see and hear one another.
The signer's identity must be established through an authorized method.
The statute allows identification through the notary's personal knowledge or through two valid forms of government-issued identification, one containing the signer's face and signature, together with the required verification of identity through public or private data sources.
Alabama's procedure continues to contain requirements concerning original signatures and delivery of the records used during the communication to the notary for authentication.
Notaries should not assume that an ordinary video call, emailed document, or electronic signature automatically satisfies Alabama's statutory procedure.
Audiovisual Recording Requirements
The notary must record the required audiovisual communication and retain the recording for seven years.
The recording must document the date and time, the documents involved, the notary's physical location in Alabama, the identification method, applicable identification images, and the observed signing.
The official date and time of the notarization are governed by the statute's requirements concerning the witnessed signature.
New Requirements Effective October 1, 2026
Act 2026-536, the Alabama Property Protection Act of 2026, amended the state's remote-notarization provisions.
Before performing the remote act, the notary must verify the signer's identity and evaluate whether the individual appears capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the transaction and is acting voluntarily.
Participants must be informed that the communication is being recorded.
The remotely located signer must be within the United States.
The amended law also requires refusal when the statutory circumstances concerning apparent incapacity, lack of understanding, duress, undue influence, insecure communication technology, or an apparently artificially generated image are present.
Prohibited Remote Notarial Purposes
Remote notarization may not be used to notarize an absentee ballot application, absentee ballot affidavit, or for any other purpose related to voting.
Remote notarization involving real property transactions requires additional attention to the current law and any transaction-specific restrictions.
A commissioned Alabama notary should review the complete current statute and confirm that the requested procedure is authorized before agreeing to perform a remote act.
Alabama Identification, Certificates, and Professional Judgment
Alabama requires notaries to positively identify individuals requesting notarial acknowledgments.
Traditional identification may be established through the notary's personal knowledge or examination of photo identification issued by a governmental entity or agency.
Remote notarization has additional identity-verification requirements.
Notaries must understand the difference between acknowledging an individual's signature, administering an oath, and completing other legally authorized notarial acts.
The correct procedure depends on the act requested and the governing law.
A notary must also remain alert to circumstances indicating that the individual does not understand the transaction or may be acting involuntarily.
Effective October 1, 2026, Alabama Code § 36-20-73 expressly recognizes a notary's authority to decline a request when the notary has reason to believe a transaction is illegal, false, or deceptive, the individual is being coerced, or the individual's demeanor creates compelling doubts about understanding the consequences.
These responsibilities are particularly important when notarizing documents connected to property transfers, financial transactions, or important personal decisions.
A notary must remain impartial and avoid transactions involving prohibited personal financial interests.
Alabama Notary Fees and Business Responsibilities
Under Alabama Code § 36-20-74, a notary may charge a reasonable fee not exceeding $10 for each authorized notarial act.
The $10 limit applies to the notarial act itself.
State, county, and municipal employees may not charge for notarial acts performed during and as part of their public service unless another law provides otherwise.
Alabama does not establish a specific statewide statutory mileage or hourly travel-fee schedule for ordinary mobile notary appointments.
Notaries who charge separately for travel should clearly explain and agree upon any additional charges before the appointment and ensure the charges comply with applicable law.
Travel expenses should not be represented as a mandatory fee imposed by the state.
Alabama also restricts unauthorized legal services and requires notaries to act within the authority of their public commission.
A non-attorney notary should not select a legally significant notarial act for a client as legal advice or represent that a notary commission authorizes the practice of law.
Developing a reliable notary business requires accurate pricing, clear client communication, sound procedures, and an understanding of the notary's legal boundaries.
Official Alabama Notary Resources
The Alabama Secretary of State publishes statewide commissioning and notarial-practice guidance and maintains public commission records.
Individual county probate judges are responsible for accepting applications and appointing notaries.
The Alabama Probate Judges Association provides the application and mandatory commissioning training.
Alabama Code Title 36, Chapter 20, Article 4, together with subsequent amendments, establishes the primary legal framework for notarial practice.
Applicants and commissioned notaries should consult official sources for current requirements, county-specific fees, mandatory training, bonds, notarial acts, and remote notarization.
(Click the links below)
Alabama Secretary of State: Notaries Public
Alabama Probate Judges Association: Notary Public
Application and training instructions
Alabama Notary Public Application
Alabama Mandatory Notary Training
Alabama County Probate Judge Directory
Alabama Code § 36-20-70
Alabama Code § 36-20-73.1
Alabama Code § 36-20-74
Alabama Secretary of State: Notary Records
Your Commission Is Only the Beginning
Alabama requires most applicants to complete mandatory commissioning education. But finishing that course doesn't prepare you for every decision you'll face while serving the public.
What happens when a signer presents unfamiliar identification? When a document is missing its notarial certificate? When you encounter a situation that raises concerns about coercion, fraud, or whether the signer understands the transaction?
And if you're developing a mobile notary business, how do you establish professional relationships, communicate your services, and become known within your community?
Alabama's 2026 changes reinforce the importance of independent professional judgment and recognizing circumstances that require a notary to decline a request.
Continued professional development helps you build practical skills, strengthen your understanding of the law, and develop reliable business procedures.
Your commission authorizes the work. What you learn and implement afterward shapes how you perform it.
Professional Development That Continues Beyond the Classroom
Notary Academy is a national notary education and professional development institution founded by Kimberly Sennett in 2020.
Our educational approach connects notarial knowledge, professional judgment, practical application, and business development.
Education Grounded in the Profession
Learn from experienced notary professionals who understand the responsibilities of the commission and the realities of serving clients.
Learning That Connects to Practice
Develop your understanding through education, real-world examples, practical resources, and opportunities to apply what you've learned.
A Path for Continued Business Growth
Whether you're strengthening foundations, establishing business, becoming visible, or refining skills, there is a structured pathway to help identify what deserves your attention next.
"Because being commissioned is only the beginning."
What Happens After You Learn the Information?
Knowing the rules is one part of professional development. Knowing how to apply what you've learned, make decisions, communicate with clients, and operate your business takes continued practice.
The Notary Academy Inner Circle brings education, practical resources, live learning, and professional guidance together in one ongoing membership.
It's an environment where you can continue building your skills and business without having to piece together every next step on your own.
Build the Skills and Business That Fit Your Goals
Alabama notaries serve in different professional settings. Some perform notarial acts as part of their employment, while others want to develop independent mobile notary businesses, establish relationships with local professionals, or explore additional services permitted by state law.
Alabama's county-based commissioning process, mandatory education, bond requirements, and updated professional responsibilities influence how a notary must operate.
Your business goals should reflect your legal authority, the services you're prepared to provide, and the people you want to serve.
Building a sustainable practice also requires reliable communication, sound procedures, professional relationships, and consistent local visibility.
Inside the Inner Circle, The Implementation Path helps members identify their current stage and focus on the work that matters most.
Strengthen Your Foundations
Develop your understanding of notarial responsibilities, procedures, compliance, and professional judgment.
Become Known in Your Community
Learn how to develop your professional presence, build local relationships, communicate your value, and become easier to find & hire.
Build With Intention
Develop business systems, evaluate your progress, practice unfamiliar situations, and make informed decisions about the future.
How do I become a Notary Public in Alabama?
Does Alabama require notary education or an examination?
Does Alabama require a notary surety bond?
How do I renew an Alabama notary commission?
Does Alabama require a notary journal?
Can Alabama notaries perform remote notarizations?
What fees may Alabama notaries charge?
Does Inner Circle membership replace Alabama's mandatory notary education?
Ready to Build More With Your Alabama Notary Commission?
Alabama requires foundational training before most applicants can become commissioned. Developing the professional judgment, relationships, and business practices that support your goals takes continued learning and intentional action.
If you're ready to strengthen your notarial knowledge, practice unfamiliar situations, become more visible in your community, and build a business that fits your goals, explore the ongoing professional development available through Notary Academy.
"Because being commissioned is only the beginning."
