How to Become an Online Notary in Arkansas

Effective April 29, 2021, Arkansas Notaries who possess an active Notary Public Commission now have the opportunity to enroll for remote online notarizations (RONs). If you’re interested in becoming an AR remote online Notary, adhere to the following steps:

Maintain your existing commission as a traditional Notary Public.
Fill out the Online Application for the Electronic Notary Commission.
Forward your completed application and the $25 fee payment to the Secretary of State.
Successfully complete the mandatory training course and pass the associated exam.
Establish an agreement with a RON provider approved by the state.

Once you’re authorized to perform RON in Arkansas and approved with your platform, you can start performing Remote Online Notarizations. Be sure to stay current with all your state’s local Online Notary laws!

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What are the requirements to become a Notary in Arkansas?

To qualify for a Notary Public Commission in Arkansas, applicants must fulfill these requirements:

Be a minimum of 18 years old.
Be a U.S. citizen or possess permanent legal residency status.
Either be a legal resident of Arkansas, a resident of a neighboring state employed or conducting business in Arkansas, or a nonresident spouse of a U.S. military service member employed or conducting business in Arkansas.
Possess the ability to read and write in English.
Have not had their Notary commission revoked within the last 10 years.
Have no felony convictions on record.

For permanent resident aliens, submission of a recorded Declaration of Domicile with the application is required. Additionally, as of July 25, 2019, nonresident spouses of U.S. military service members employed or conducting business in Arkansas are eligible to apply for an Arkansas Notary Commission, provided they furnish specific U.S. Department of Defense documentation as part of their application.

How to Become a Traditional Notary in Arkansas (Get your Notary Commission)

To become an Arkansas Notary, you should follow these outlined steps:

Ensure that you satisfy all the state’s prerequisites (see below).
Obtain a $7,500 surety bond.
Register an account on the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website and successfully pass the online examination.
Fill out an application form, which includes an affidavit that requires your signature and notarization.
Submit the application, a copy of your bond, along with the $20 fee to the Secretary of State’s office.
Procure your official Notary seal.
Acquire a Notary journal and consider obtaining E&O insurance (although optional, it is highly recommended).
If desired, engage in continuing education or seek guidance from Notary experts (again, optional but highly recommended).

Once you have completed all these steps and obtained your commission you are ready to start performing notarial acts as a commissioned notary in Arkansas.

For further details, consult the Notary Public and eNotary Handbook or the Arkansas SoS Website.

For any confusion in the process, we recommend joining the BlueNotary Mastermind Facebook Group full of notaries from each state who have been through the exact state processes and can help guide you along the way.

Updated on: 01/07/2024