So, you’d like to become a notary in Chicago Illinois? Never fear! It’s so simple if you follow these easy steps:
Before we begin, to become a notary in the state of Illinois you must:
- be a US citizen or permanent resident
- be a resident of Illinois for at least 30 days
- be at least 18 years old
- be able to read and write English language
- have no felony convictions and must not have had a notary commission revoked during the past 10 years
(There is one exception to the residency rule: if you are not an Illinois resident but you live in a state bordering Illinois, you can still serve a one-year term as a notary in Illinois.)
Now that that’s taken care of, what’s next?
The first step is to obtain an official Illinois notary public application and bond form. This .pdf form can be filled out online, then printed, or you can print it out and complete it by hand. After you have filled out the application per the instructions, you must have a commissioned notary public witness and notarize your signature on the application. Use your favorite search engine or your Chicago area Yellow Pages to find a notary in your area.
The second step is to obtain a $5,000 Surety Bond. This bond protects the public from mistakes you may make during your term as notary. Again, check your Chicago Yellow Pages or your favorite internet search engine: you can obtain a Surety Bond from some insurance companies, bond agencies or notary organizations.
The third step is to mail the notarized application and surety bond the Secretary of State’s office, along with a $10 state filing fee, to:
Secretary of State Index Department
111 E Monroe
Springfield IL 62756
When the Secretary of State approves your application to be a notary, you will be assigned your notary commission. However, the commission will be sent to the Chicago county clerk’s office at:
City Hall Office
121 N LaSalle St. Room 107,
Chicago, IL 60602.
The county clerk will then register the commission, will notify you of this record, and at that point your title as notary becomes official.
Fourth: Supplies. All notaries in Illinois should have the following supplies:
- Official Notary Seal (required)
- Notary Stamp
- Notary Journal (not required, but a good idea for your own benefit in case a notarial act is ever questioned).
Also, please note: even though the State of Illinois doesn’t require that you attend any certification classes or trainings, we definitely recommend that you look into taking one or two, if nothing else than to keep yourself current with the local laws and regulations. Some insurance companies offer seminars and training sessions; there are online courses available as well. It’s worth the effort to look into classes such as these, it’ll make your job easier in the long run!
And that’s it! If you followed the simple steps outlined above, you are now ready to be a notary in Chicago Illinois! Wasn’t that easy? Now get out there and start networking! Don’t forget to stop by later to let us know how you’re doing! We love hearing your success stories!
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