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Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the Alabama Secretary of State and your county probate judge using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Alabama does not currently authorize Remote Online Notarization. Notaries are appointed and commissioned by the probate judge of the county of residence, not by the Secretary of State. Act 2023-548 also requires acknowledgments to be executed in the physical presence of the notary in Alabama. The Secretary of State keeps a public list of commissioned notaries and publishes statewide notary law.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the probate judge’s current instructions for your county if anything here differs from that office.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the Alabama Secretary of State and your county probate judge’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as an Alabama notary public, you must meet all of the following:
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Start Here: County Probate Judge
Alabama has no statewide SOS notary portal. Start with your county probate office. The Secretary of State page is for law, training notice, and the public notary list.
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Read the Secretary of State overview Open Notaries Public. It explains who commissions notaries, the training mandate, and how to contact Government Support. |
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Find your county probate judge Use the county probate contact list linked from Notaries Public. Ask that office for the application, bond, training, and fee used in your county. |
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If you already hold an Alabama commission, confirm it is current Ask the probate office that issued your commission, or browse the Secretary of State’s public list of commissioned notaries linked from the Notaries Public page. |
Part 1: Traditional Alabama Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Alabama notary commission. Remote online commissioning is not available in Alabama, so a traditional commission is the only path the state currently uses.
Checklist
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Review the official how-to Start with Notaries Public and Ala. Code §§ 36-20-70 to 36-20-75 (including Act 2023-548). Ask your probate office for the county’s current application packet. |
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Complete traditional notary education Complete the pre-commission training program prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute. Contact those organizations for the current course. The Secretary of State does not list a statewide training fee. |
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Obtain a $50,000 surety bond Act 2023-548 increased the required bond to $50,000, obtained from an Alabama-licensed producer and filed with the probate judge of your county of residence. The premium is paid to the bonding company, not to the Secretary of State. |
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Submit the traditional application Apply with the county probate judge. Act 2023-548 sets a $10 application fee and a $25 commission-issuance fee payable to the judge of probate. Confirm those amounts with your county; the SOS Notaries Public page does not reprint a fee table. |
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Receive your commission and take any oath the county requires Probate judges appoint notaries for four-year terms and report the commission to the Secretary of State. Follow the oath and seal instructions your county gives you. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
Not applicable. Alabama does not currently authorize a separate online (RON) commission. Keep this section so you can re-check the official site if the law changes.
Have these ready
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Checklist
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Read the official online-notary instructions Not applicable. The Secretary of State does not publish an online-notary application. Recheck Notaries Public before you rely on a third-party claim that Alabama RON is open. |
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Complete online notary education Not applicable. There is no separate SOS online-notary education course. |
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Start the online commission application Not applicable. There is no online (RON) commission application. |
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Sign with a digital certificate Not applicable. |
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Upload your electronic seal Not applicable. |
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Pay and submit Not applicable. There is no SOS online-commission filing fee. |
After You Are Commissioned
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There is no separate online commission to renew. Renew the traditional commission with the county probate judge before it expires (four-year term).
Fees Listed by the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State does not publish a statewide notary fee schedule. Confirm county fees with your probate judge. Bond premiums are paid to the bonding company.
| Item | Amount |
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| Traditional notary education | Not listed on the official SOS site (Probate Judges Association / Alabama Law Institute course) |
| Online notary education | Not applicable |
| Traditional application | $10 application + $25 commission issuance to the probate judge (Act 2023-548; confirm with your county) |
| Online (RON) application | Not applicable |
| Surety bond | $50,000 coverage (premium paid to the bonding company) |
Official Alabama Links
| Resource | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Notaries Public (SOS) | sos.alabama.gov/administrative-services/notaries-public |
| SOS Government Support | (334) 242-5325 | [email protected] |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. Alabama does not currently authorize an online (RON) commission. Apply only for a traditional commission through your county probate judge.
Q: Does Alabama approve a list of RON platforms?
A: No. The Secretary of State does not authorize remote online notarization and does not approve RON platforms.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Ask your county probate judge. Recheck the SOS Notaries Public page for statewide law and training notices.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
