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Belated Update on Georgia’s New Notary Laws for 2025

In an attempt to prevent deed fraud, the state of Georgia has updated its notary laws in 2025. The new requirements are aimed at better training, better security identification, as well as updated rules for notary journals.

The journal requirements focus on record keeping for exempt entities versus “self-filers”. Exempt entities are associated with exempted professional groups. These include attorneys and title insurance agents.

Requiring record keeping, there were some legal questioning surrounding the current laws. In a strange move, personal knowledge of the signer is still sufficient for the signing.

Confirmation of Identity: To address ambiguities in the prior statutory language, the new law clarifies the acceptable methods for confirming the identity of signers, oath-takers, and affirmants. The previous statutory language allowed identity verification through “personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence,” with only one example of “satisfactory evidence:” a Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The amended statute replaces the vague standard with a requirement for verification using government-issued photo identification documents (valid driver’s license; personal identification card issued under Georgia law; or military identification card—still including a Veterans Health Identification Card).[3] Personal knowledge remains a valid method of identity confirmation under the new law.

National Law Review

New 2025 Notary Laws in Georgia

Educational requirements have also been updated, requiring testing before the initial license, as well as thirty days before each renewal.

How do I know if the Notary Journal is Required for any Specific Signing?

It’s a simple five step process that should help you navigate the new law. We’ll list the steps below, but we recommend you follow up the the text of the bill, or use the link above to the National Law Review.

  1. Identify the type of document
  2. Determine if signer is a “self-filer”
  3. Verify the individuals identity
  4. Record required information into your journal
  5. Maintain your journal.

Nothing too mind bending here, just a couple of more hoops to jump through that make common sense.

In the News, Notary News and Advice

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Accepting Small Business Help to Grow Your Business

Everyone wants to grow their business, at least most of us.

But, there are hurdles in running your own business, including the business side of it, as well as learning techniques to grow your business through better marketing, or by offering more services.

One of those services is called Shell LiveWire. It is a Louisiana based company that aids enticing new entrepreneurs. It also focuses on developing new business for those entrepreneurs.

We highly recommend following the link if you want to learn more about their programs, which are top notch.

Thinking Big

Enter Tatiana Alaniz. She didn’t think small. She wanted to reach out to the under served communities, among other things. Her company had bilingual support, but was having trouble making it appeal to the needed customer base.

Her business now provides a range of notary services, focusing on the Latino community. This quickly grew from just offering notary services, into full blown business advice.

Here is Shell LiveWire

“Shell LiveWire is a free business accelerator program to help entrepreneurs and small business owners sustain and grow,” explains Becky Cooper, US Social Investment Advisor. Cooper went on to say, “Shell LiveWire participants benefit from an eight-week intensive training program, networking opportunities, and a range of resources provided by the programs implementing partner, Louisiana Small Business Development Center. The Accelerator’s objective is to empower businesses from various fields and welcomes applicants from diverse sectors. A wide range of businesses can lead to a more vibrant and thriving community, offering residents a variety of goods and services. By extending the program to different sectors, you promote community development that fosters an environment that allows entrepreneurship to thrive.”

The Acadiana Advocate

Thinking Big to Grow Your Small Business

Tatiana was smart enough to understand her weaknesses, and joined Shell LiveWire to help along those lines.

They helped her expand her services. She is now an authorized public tag agency, taking care of registrations, as well as issuing license plates.

On the accounting end, LiveWire helped Tatiana receive a grant to learn Quickbooks, which has helped to streamline the business. The financial expertise learned has helped to unlock even more new opportunities for here business.

New opportunities include help. Taking advantage of small business courses can help you grow and streamline your business, letting you focus more of your time on earning more money.

Entities like Shell LiveWire provide an incredible service for budding, and experienced entrepreneurs. It may be time to look one up in your area if you are not in Louisiana, where Shell LiveWire is.

Nebraska Notary Saga Goes On

1. The Charges

A notary was charged with notarizing false signatures for a Nebraska medical marijuana initiative.

A total of 24 charges were filed. The notary was charged with official misconduct. Between the notary and their alleged accomplice, 98 ballots were found to have egregious errors live wrong birth date and other details.

Each count in the filing alleged the notary was not in the same room of their accomplice. This is required by state law.

“Hall County Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet and the people with whom she works take election integrity very seriously,” Klein said in the press release. “Their diligence and thoroughness in the petition signature verification and the work of the investigation team from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office led to these charges. Voters in Hall County should be confident in signing petitions and casting their ballots in Hall County.”

Nebraska Public Media

Nebraska Notary Charges Dismissed.

2. The Dismissal

Then charges were dismissed by Judge Alfred Corey.

“While these duties greatly assist others, notary publics are not public servants who are performing governmental functions,” Corey wrote in a four-page opinion Friday.

Nebraska Examiner

This case has a direct effect on medical marijuana initiatives across the state.

In addition, the court found that a notarys’ duty are essentially clerical and ministerial.

3. The Appeal

Well, it hasn’t ended there.

Prosecutors with the county and state have appealed the dismissal of charges. The notary’s attorney said he vowed to fight this all of the way.

“(The notary) is believed by everyone who has looked into this case to be the one and only person in the history of the state of Nebraska to be criminally charged for simply notarizing documents incorrectly (to be clear, we dispute that even occurred),” Porto (the attorney) said in an email. 

“Nevertheless, the Attorney General’s Office has apparently decided to continue this likely unprecedented prosecution of a well-meaning combat veteran,” Porto continued. “Why?”

Nebraska Examiner

The appeal surrounds Judge Corey’s decision that a notary is not a public official. Prosecutors have brought up the argument that some other states have different laws governing the way a notary is designated to have governmental power.

And you thought a specific signing can be difficult. Just imagine this notary’s ordeal.

We’ll keep you updated when new events occur, though the timeline for that is unknown.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

GET STARTED

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

Dekalb County Georgia Makes Changes to Notary Law

For those of you doing business in Dekalb County, Georgia, there are some updates to notary law coming soon. The new measures will be put into effect on January 1st, 2025.

It always seems to start with new notaries. They will now have to pass an educational training course to get their commission. It will now be part of the application process.

But, veterans, don’t fret, you aren’t left out. Among the provisions are required their notebook requirements. This is put in place to protect self-filers.

Here are some of the changes to the law.

Dekalb County Georgia Makes Changes to Notary Law

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

On Common Ground News

Here are a couple of links related to the subject.

Notary Training Course

New Notary Bill

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

GET STARTED

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000