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For West Virginia Notaries

Last Modified Date: Jan 18, 2023

West Virginia notaries must complete the following steps to ensure they have the necessary training, tools, and credentials before performing notarizations on the Notarize platform.

All notaries

Obtain a Traditional Notarial Commission

Your traditional commission allows you to perform in-person notarizations. To obtain your traditional commission, follow these instructions from the Secretary of State. After obtaining your commission, you must provide information about and upload a copy of it to your profile.

Purchase a Digital Certificate from IdenTrust

A digital certificate is an electronic credential that is used to digitally tamper seal notarized documents. You must purchase a digital certificate from IdenTrust and upload it to your profile.

Obtaining a digital certificate from IdenTrust takes between 3 and 5 days. You may choose any of the three IGC Agencies Basic Assurance Unaffiliated certificate options:

  • 1 Year - $77.00
  • 2 Year - $137.00
  • 3 Year - $182.00

We will not accept digital certificates issued by other vendors.

Important: Make sure the name on your digital certificate is identical to the name on your commission documentation. Differences between the name on your digital certificate and the one in your documentation will delay approval of your notary profile.

Please note: IdenTrust requires you to provide certain personal information to validate your identity prior to issuing to you a digital certificate. Directions for acquiring your digital certificate are available here and directions for downloading your digital certificate and uploading to the Notarize platform are available here.


Obtain E&O Insurance Policy

Errors and omissions insurance protects you from liability for false claims or unintentional notarial mistakes or omissions. You must provide information about and upload a copy of an errors and omissions insurance policy for at least $25,000 to the platform.

Generate an Electronic Signature and Notarial Seal in the Notarize Platform

Your electronic signature and seal are used to sign and seal notarized documents. Do not purchase them from other vendors as they will both be freely provided to you by the Notarize platform.

The information that you provide during onboarding will be used to automatically generate a seal that complies with the particular legal requirements of your state.

You will also create your signature during onboarding and are responsible to make sure that it matches your name as commissioned and your signature on file with the Secretary of State.

Obtain Authorization to Perform Online Notarizations

To obtain authorization to perform online notarizations, complete and submit an E-Notarization Authorization application in the Enterprise Registration and Licensing System.

If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary of State at this email: notary@wvsos.gov

Please note: If you were already authorized to perform online notarizations prior to your application with Notarize, you must inform the Secretary of State that you are now using Notarize.

Complete Notarize Platform Certification

After you complete the steps outlined above, you will be sent a link to a course and assessment of your understanding of the Notarize platform. You must complete the course and score 80% or higher on the assessment.

Obtain Authorization to Perform Online Notarizations

To obtain authorization to perform online notarizations, follow these instructions and submit your Online Notary Public Commission Application with your notarial seal, digital certificate, and a $75 fee to the Secretary of State.

The questions in your application can be answered as follows -

1. The name of your vendor and a description of the technologies it uses to provide the services listed in section 4;
2. An explanation of the method or technology you will use to maintain an electronic notary journal as required by the Rules;
3. A copy of your unique electronic seal (see the Rules for requirements);
4. A copy of your unique electronic notarial certificate or other technology for rendering a notarized electronic document tamper-evident;
5. A copy of the  instructions or techniques supplied by the vendor that allows the online notary public’s electronic notarial certificate to be read and authenticated;
6. A copy of the instructions or techniques supplied by the vendor that allow the online notary public to conduct identity proofing and credential analysis.

If you have any questions, reach out to the Secretary of State's office at this email: tnsos.mvtl@tn.gov.

Please note: If you were already authorized to perform online notarizations prior to your application with Notarize, you must inform the Secretary of State that you are now using Notarize.

Additional On-Demand Notary Requirements