How to become a notary public in Delaware

Delaware notary public licenses

Delaware issues 3 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Delaware notary public licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Education or training

No training or course is required³

Exam

Not required¹

Background check

Background check required²
Felons whose rights have not been restored and people convicted of crimes of dishonesty or moral turpitude are not eligible; any prior conviction requires a certified background check from the convicting jurisdiction, dated within 6 months of the Section's notice.²

Residency or citizenship

US citizen or permanent legal resident; Delaware residence with a street address, or an office/place of employment in Delaware open Monday-Friday to accept service of process (no PO box, virtual office or registered agent).¹

Also required

Must be able to read and write English¹

Also required

Must have a reasonable need for a notary commission²

Also required

An email address is required; commission certificates and renewal notices are sent by email²

Also required

Execute the oath of office and send a copy to the Secretary of State before notarizing¹

Also required

Keep one journal (paper or electronic) of all notarial acts and retain it 10 years⁴

How to apply

1. Confirm you meet the requirements (18+, US citizen or permanent resident, Delaware residence or Delaware workplace, read/write English, good character, reasonable need).²
2. If you have any prior conviction, supply a certified background check from the convicting jurisdiction when asked.²
3. When the commission certificate arrives by email, sign and take the oath before a notary and return a copy to the Notary Public Section; buy a stamp/seal and start a journal.³

Apply online

notary.delaware.gov²

2. Every license level except Limited Governmental Notary

Renewal

If it expires

Renewal opens in the profile only when the commission has expired or expires within 30 days.⁵

Renew online

notary.delaware.gov⁵

3. Every license level except Traditional Notary (Notary Public commission)

Fees

How to apply

1. Apply online at notaryforms.delaware.gov and select the Limited Governmental or Service Organization link on the first screen (no fee).² notaryforms.delaware.gov²

Who needs a Traditional Notary commission

Notarial acts within Delaware on paper; after notifying the Secretary of State and naming an approved technology, also on electronic records and for remotely located signers (notary must be physically in Delaware).³

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Justices of the peace and the Secretary of Finance are appointed notaries by virtue of office; banks and court reporters have separate appointment provisions.¹

Requirements for a Traditional Notary commission

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Also required

Remote or electronic notarization: request the privilege in your notary profile and use a State-approved technology; remote sessions must be audio-video recorded and kept at least 10 years.⁶

How much a Traditional Notary commission costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

What a notary public may charge the public:

• Maximum fees a notary may charge: $5.00 per act on a tangible record, $25 per act on an electronic record; may be waived.¹

How to apply

1. Start the online application at notaryforms.delaware.gov, create your notary profile, and choose "Continue" for a traditional commission.² notaryforms.delaware.gov²
2. Pay the non-refundable $60 fee (2-year term) online by e-check or card, or enter an employer Company ID if your employer has a pre-funded account.²

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Initial term 2 years; renewal for 2 or 4 years¹

Renewal fee

$60⁷ (2-year renewal; a 4-year renewal costs $90 (listed in fees))

Moving to Delaware with a license from another state

These are the routes the Notary Public Section publishes for the Traditional Notary commission. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Notaries may not charge service members, veterans or their listed relatives for acknowledgments/oaths on Veterans Administration and service-related papers (29 Del. C. § 4312). No notary-specific military-spouse licensing provision found.¹

Limited Governmental Notary

Employees of Delaware state agencies or Delaware police agencies; may perform only the notarial acts authorized by the employing agency and may not charge.¹

Requirements

Experience

Must be an employee of a Delaware state agency/unit or of a qualified police agency, with employer approval⁸

Also required

Stamp must read "My Commission expires upon office"⁸

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Your employer/organization completes the free Corporate Application and gives you its Company ID.⁸

Renewal

When it expires

Expires at the end of qualifying employment; not renewable⁵

If it expires

On transfer to another qualifying agency, notify the Secretary of State within 30 days and provide an employer request and approval form from the new agency to keep the commission; on leaving qualifying employment the commission ends.¹

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Service Organization Notary

One notary per State-recognized veterans' organization or volunteer fire/ambulance and rescue company; acts only for the organization's veterans or members and their families, free of charge.¹

Requirements

Experience

Must be requested by the department commander of a State-recognized veterans' organization or the administrative head of a volunteer fire company or volunteer ambulance and rescue company¹

Also required

On leaving the organization, turn the stamp in to the organization and ask the Notary Section to deactivate the commission³

Fees

How to apply

1. Your veterans' organization commander or volunteer fire/ambulance company head requests the appointment.¹

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years²

When it expires

4-year term¹

Renewal fee

$0⁷

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Delaware, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Delaware is on the Delaware license lookup page.

Look up a license

data.delaware.gov³

File a complaint

notary.delaware.gov²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 29 Del. C. § 4301
• 29 Del. C. § 4306
• 29 Del. C. § 4307
• 29 Del. C. § 4308
• 29 Del. C. § 4311
• 29 Del. C. § 4320
• 29 Del. C. § 4332
• 29 Del. C. § 4333
• 29 Del. C. § 4334
• 29 Del. C. § 4312

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
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• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
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