How to Become a Notary in Mississippi

Mississippi doesn't require classes or exams to become a notary — but the state does enforce a strict filing sequence, and getting even one step out of order means starting over with a fresh application and another $25 fee.

Who Qualifies for a Mississippi Notary Commission

The Secretary of State's Business Services Division processes applications, but the Governor formally issues every commission. To qualify under Mississippi Code Section 25-34-41, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
• Have lived in Mississippi for at least 30 consecutive days in the county where you're applying
• Be able to read and write English
• Have no lifetime felony conviction unless fully pardoned by the Governor, and not be currently incarcerated, on probation, or on parole
• Have no prior notary commission revoked, suspended, restricted, or denied due to official misconduct in any state

Mississippi does not offer a non-resident employee exception. If you live across the state line in Tennessee or Alabama and commute into Mississippi for work, you're ineligible.

The Filing Sequence (Order Matters)

The most common mistake is trying to buy a surety bond before receiving the state's preliminary approval. Mississippi uses a multi-step sequence where each step depends on the one before it.

Step 1 — Submit Form NP-001 with $25. Download the Notary Public Commission Application from sos.ms.gov. Fill it out with your commission name (must include your surname plus at least a first or middle initial — no nicknames). Sign the integrated oath of office in front of an active Mississippi notary, who will notarize your application. Mail the original form and a $25 check or money order to the Business Services Division in Jackson.

Step 2 — Receive your preliminary approval. The state reviews your application, forwards it to the Governor for formal approval, and emails you a pre-commission letter with your assigned commission dates. This arrives within roughly 3 to 7 business days. Watch your email — paper notices are no longer mailed.

Step 3 — Purchase a $5,000 surety bond. Using the commission dates from your pre-commission letter, buy a surety bond from an insurer licensed by the Mississippi Department of Insurance. The bond's effective date must match the start date on your letter exactly. Bond premiums typically run $30 to $50 for the full four-year term.

Step 4 — File the bond and oath within 60 days. Execute the bond on Form NP-002, sign the oath before a commissioned notary, and mail everything back to the Secretary of State. This 60-day deadline runs from your preliminary approval date. Miss it and the state permanently rejects your application — you'll restart from Step 1.

Step 5 — Receive your commission certificate. Once the Secretary of State processes your bond and oath, you'll receive your official commission certificate by email. Download and save it immediately.

Setting Up Your Notary Supplies

After your commission is active, purchase compliant supplies from a commercial notary vendor:

• Inking rubber stamp — embossers and crimpers are not allowed as your primary seal in Mississippi. The stamp must include your commissioned name, "Notary Public," "State of Mississippi," your county of residence, your commission expiration date, and your commission ID number. No abbreviations except name suffixes like "Jr." or "III."
• Permanently bound journal — consecutively numbered pages, tamper-evident. Mississippi enforces a single-journal rule: one active journal at a time covering both traditional and electronic notarizations.

Before your first notarization, open the journal and fill out the mandatory identification page on page one with your name, commission number, expiration date, office address, and official signature.

What Your Commission Covers

A Mississippi notary commission is valid for four years and grants statewide jurisdiction across all 82 counties. You can notarize documents anywhere in the state, though your stamp must always display your actual county of residence.

Your commission authorizes traditional paper notarizations and, with separate IPEN registration, in-person electronic notarizations. Remote online notarization is not currently authorized for Mississippi-commissioned notaries.

The complete Mississippi notary commission guide walks through every step with filing trackers, deadline reminders, and the local business licensing requirements that catch most new notaries off guard.

See more Mississippi guides →