Notaries in Illinois are appointed and regulated by the Illinois Secretary of State.
According to that governing body:
“The active notaries public in Illinois have been appointed and commissioned by the Index Department. In addition are the controlling authority for specialty notarization, Certificates of Authority, Certificates of Incumbency and Apostilles. The purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud and forgery. The notary acts as an official and unbiased witness to the identity of person who comes before the notary for a specific purpose.
Notaries are appointed by the Secretary of State for a four year term. An applicant for an appointment must be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, be a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 30 days, be at least 18 years of age, be able to read and write the English language, have not been convicted of a felony, and have not had a notary commission revoked during the past 10 years.
An applicant must complete the application form provided by the Secretary of State and must obtain a notary bond valued at $5,000 from a bonding or surety company. Once approved the commission will be mailed to the county clerk in which the applicant resides. There it must be recorded before the applicant is officially a notary.” Illinois Secretary of State
Notary Bonds Explained
A Notary Bond is a safeguard for Illinois residents. It guarantees that the surety bond company will pay losses that may be incurred by the Illinois public during a notary’s term should there be any wrongdoing or issues that arise from the notary’s execution of their duties. In the case that a payment must be made by the surety bond provider, they must be reimbursed by the notary themselves to the surety bond company.
How to Get a Notary Bond
Madden & Bergstrom has provided Illinois Notary Bonds for over 70 years. The process is quick and easy using our online Get A Bond service. If you have any questions about obtaining a Notary Bond, please contact us.
What Do You Do With a Notary Bond?
Once you have acquired your Notary Bond, you submit it along with your application to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Disclaimer: This information is intended to help individuals, but it should not be construed as legal advice. As with any public policy, there are a number of issues that the law and rules do not address, and law is always subject to change and interpretation. Madden & Bergstrom cannot offer legal advice or offer advisory opinions.
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