DeKalb County Clerk Debra DeBerry announces changes to Notary law

DECATUR, GA – With the adoption of House Bill 1292 by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session, Georgia’s notaries public will be required to complete an educational training course as part of the application process. Additionally, notaries will be required to maintain a journal of their notarial acts performed at the request of a self-filer. 

The educational requirement applies to all notary applicants, whether it is an initial (new) application or a renewal application. The new requirements become effective Jan. 1, 2025.

HB 1292 [O.C.G.A. §45-17-8(h)(2)] directs the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Authority to adopt rules and regulations, as necessary, to implement the statutory requirements. Adopted by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority’s Board of Directors on Oct. 9, 2024, please see https://www.gsccca.org/notary-and-apostilles/notaries/public-education-rules . 

Highlights of HB 1292 and The Notary Educational Rules for the State of Georgia: 

• A notary public shall maintain a written or electronic journal for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer for real estate documents
• A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s initial (new) appointment
• A notary public applicant is required to complete an educational training class prior to the applicant’s renewal of a current appointment
• A notary public applicant will be provided a certificate upon successful completion of the training course
• A notary public applicant must include the certificate of completion with the notary application to the Clerk of Superior Court

The approved notary educational training course can be found on the Authority eLearn site at https://elearn.gsccca.org/.