Notary Public in Kentucky
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for KY. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
Est. total cost
Time to complete
route How to become a notary public in Kentucky
To become a Notary Public in Kentucky, applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and reside or work in the Kentucky county where they apply. The process involves submitting an application with a $10 fee to the Kentucky Secretary of State, obtaining a $1,000 surety bond, and then taking an oath of office and filing the bond with the County Clerk, which includes an additional $19 filing fee. No exam or continuing education is required, and the commission is valid for four years. Kentucky also offers a 'Special Commission Notary' for specific circumstances, allowing notarizations for documents to be recorded in Kentucky, even if performed out-of-state.
checklist Kentucky requirements
| Licensing body | Kentucky Secretary of State |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Able to read and write English |
| Application fee | $10 |
| Renewal | Every 4.0 years |
| Reciprocity | Kentucky offers a "Special Commission Notary" for residents or non-residents; acts from other states are recognized.Reciprocal states: Kentucky offers a 'Special Commission Notary' for residents or non-residents appointed by the Governor to perform notarial acts inside or outside the state for documents recorded only in Kentucky. Generally, a notarial act performed in another state has the same effect in Kentucky if performed by a notary public of that state. |
| Notes | Minimum age is 18. A $1,000 surety bond is required. There is a $10 state application fee and an additional county filing fee of $19. Notaries must be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S. and a resident of, or have a place of employment or practice in, the Kentucky county where the application is made. No exam or continuing education is required. A notary seal is optional for traditional paper acts but mandatory for electronic/online notaries. An electronic journal is mandatory for electronic/online notaries. |
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Kentucky? See whether Kentucky recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Notary Public license reciprocity guide.
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