Instructions for Notary Public Special Commission

You are applying for a  Kentucky Notary Special Commission.  A Notary Public Special Commission is a resident or nonresident of Kentucky who is appointed by the Governor of Kentucky to perform notarial acts inside or outside this state covering writings prepared for recordation in this state.  Notaries receiving the appointment to this office are specifically limited to the acts described in this paragraph.

After the application has been filed with the Secretary of State, you will receive a Notice of Appointment; attached to the Notice of Appointment will be a printed Oath of Office.  Pursuant to KRS 62.010, you must take the Oath of Office within thirty (30) days after you receive your Notice of Appointment.  The official oath may be administered by any judge, county judge/executive, notary public, clerk of a court, or justice of the peace (magistrate) in your district or county.  After the oath has been administered, the written Oath of Office should be signed by both the person taking the oath and the person administering the oath.  The signed Oath of Office must be returned to the Secretary of State within thirty (30) days after the date on the Notice of Appointment letter.  Upon receipt of the Oath of Office by the Secretary of State, the Governor, through the Secretary of State, will issue to the applicant the Commission to Office.

Once you have been appointed to the Office of Notary Public Special Commission, you should utilize the following signature format: "I                                 , a Kentucky Notary Public Special Commission, for acts performed in or outside Kentucky for recordation in Kentucky; my commission expires:                   ."

Line 1: List your name and date of birth as you want it to appear on the Certificate of Appointment.

Line 2: List your home address.  This is where your written notice of appointment will be mailed.

Line 3: List county of application.  If you are an out-of-state resident, designate the Kentucky county from which you are making application.

Line 4: Check whether you are applying for a new appointment or a reappointment.  If previously a notary public and your commission has expired, please check new appointment.

Line 5: Read the requirements.

Line 6: Sign the application.

The Certificate of Approval must be signed by one of the following officials whose jurisdiction or district includes the county of application:  Circuit  Judge, Circuit Clerk, County Judge/Executive, County Clerk, Magistrate, or member of the General Assembly.

Please mail application along with a $10.00 fee made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer to:

Notary Commissions
P.O. Box 821
Frankfort, KY  40602-0821