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Q: I mailed a
notary
application and
bond to the
Secretary of
State. When may
I begin
notarizing
documents?
A: An appointed
notary public
may begin
notarizing
documents only
after his or her
commission is
recorded with
the county clerk
and the notary
has obtained a
seal. The
notary must
appear in person
in the County
Clerk's office,
record the
commission, and
pay a fee of
$5.00 or mail
their signature
to the County
Clerk with a fee
of $10.00.
Q: What type of
notary seals are
acceptable in
Illinois.
A: Notaries must
obtain and use a
rubber stamp
type seal that
includes the
expiration date
of their
commission. A
specimen of this
type of seal
appears below. A
notary public
shall affix the
rubber stamp
seal clearly and
legibly using
black ink so
that it is
capable of
photographic
reproduction.
Q: Why do I need
a surety bond
and do I need
Notary Errors &
Omissions
insurance?
A: A $5,000
surety bond is
required by the
Secretary of
State, it
guarantees to
any third party
that if the
notary public
fails to
properly perform
an act, the
surety company
will indemnify
the third party
for any damages
caused up to
$5,000. The
surety will then
look to the
notary for
reimbursement on
any loss. The
Errors &
Omissions
insurance policy
protects the
notary against
claims, no
matter how
unjustified and
includes cost of
defense up to
the limits of
the policy.
Q: Can
information
about my notary
appointment be
given to other
people?
A: Yes. Notary
public
applications and
appointments are
public records
and are
available to any
interested
person for
examination or
copying.
Q: May I
notarize my own
signature and
the signatures
of my spouse,
children and
other relatives?
A: A notary
public my not
notarize his or
her own
signature and
may not notarize
any document in
which the
notary's name
appears as a
party to the
transaction. A
notary may
notarize the
signature of his
or her spouse,
children and
other relatives.
Q: May I
notarize
documents which
originate out of
state?
A: Yes, as long
as you perform
the notarial act
in Illinois and
the notarial
certificate
indicates,
"State of
Illinois, County
of
________________"
to identify the
jurisdiction in
which the
notarial act
took place.
Q: May I
notarize
documents when I
am physically
outside the
State of
Illinois?
A: No. An
Illinois notary
public has
authority to
perform notarial
acts only while
in the State of
Illinois. |
