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NOTARY PUBLIC
ABOUT THE OFFICE
The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth is responsible for the commissioning of Notaries Public in Virginia, pursuant to §47.1-8 of the Code of Virginia. Please visit their website for up-to-date information.
NOTARY APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY AND INFORMATION
To be eligible to apply for a Virginia Notary Public Commission, you must be: (1) at least eighteen years old, (2) able to read and write the English language, (3) be a legal resident of the United States, (4) live or work in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and (5) have not been convicted of a felony. Any person who has ever been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States or this Commonwealth, or the laws of any other state, shall not qualify to be appointed and commissioned as a Virginia Notary Public unless such person has had his/her rights restored.
Non-residents of Virginia may be appointed as notaries if they are regularly employed in the state and perform notary services in connection with their employment. A non-resident notary who ceases to be regularly employed in Virginia must surrender his or her commission.
Virginia is a “self certifying state” and does not require classes or testing to qualify to become a notary public.
Click here if you are applying for a Virginia Notary Public commission for the first time
Click here if you are currently serving as a Virginia Notary Public, you have not changed your name, and you would like to renew your commission
Click here if more than 30 days has passed since your Virginia Notary Public commission has expired and/or your name has changed and you would like to reapply.
COMMISSIONS
By law, you must claim your commission within 60 days after it is issued. If you fail to do so, you must submit a new application and a new fee to become a Notary Public. Once you receive notice from the Secretary of the Commonwealth about your commission, please call us to confirm that we have received it before coming in to take your oath. A fee of $10 is due when you take the oath and pick up your commission at the Clerk's Office.
Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
ONLINE RECORDS INFORMATION
ACCESS RECORDS ONLINE
Deeds, judgments, financing statements, wills, and marriage licenses are available.
Civil and criminal records, including all scanned (non-sealed) images, are available online via. The service is available to Virginia attorneys (must be in good standing), their agents / assistants, and pro hac vice attorneys.
ONLINE RECORDS INFORMATION
BUSINESS TRADE NAME
INFORMATION
Pursuant to § 59.1-70, effective January 1, 2020, assumed or fictitious name certificates will no longer be filed in the Clerk's Office. All certificates will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Commission (State Corporation Commission).
CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE
A Certificate of Release of a trade name that has been filed previously in the Clerk's Office will be recorded in the Clerk's Office where it was originally filed.
FORM
Certificate of Release of Assumed of Fictitious Name on File in a Circuit Court
Form is available for completion on a public computer in the Clerk's Office Deed Room.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE
Form must be typed.
Signature(s) must be notarized or can be signed in person before a deputy clerk at the Clerk’s Office with a proper government issued photo ID.
Form can be filed in person at the Circuit Court Deed Room or mailed with payment and self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Shenandoah County Circuit Court
Attn: Deed Room P. O. Box 406
112 South Main Street
Woodstock, VA 22664-1423