How to Become a Notary in West Virginia (2026): No Bond, No Exam & Cost
This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. West Virginia notary rules are set in the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, W. Va. Code Chapter 39, Article 4, and can change, so confirm the details with the West Virginia Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.
What does it cost to become a notary in West Virginia?
Becoming a West Virginia notary usually costs $72 to $92, low because there is no bond. The only fixed state charge is the $52 application fee, which covers the full five-year term, and state or local government notaries can have it waived with a letter from their office head. The rest is your required stamp and an optional journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.
How do you become a notary in West Virginia?
You become a West Virginia notary entirely online in a few steps. The order is:
- Read the notary law. Review the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, W. Va. Code 39-4; you will affirm on the application that you have read and understand it.
- Complete the online application. File through the Enterprise Registration and Licensing System, answering under penalty of perjury rather than a separate oath.
- Pay the $52 fee. Submit the fee online; government applicants attach an office-head letter to have it waived.
- Wait for your commission letter. The Secretary of State sends a commission letter with the exact details to put on your seal.
- Order your stamp. Have a compliant rubber stamp made from the commission letter; you cannot notarize until you have both the certificate and the seal.
Do you need a bond to become a West Virginia notary?
No, West Virginia eliminated the notary surety bond requirement effective June 3, 2018, so guides that still list a $1,000 bond are out of date. You no longer file or pay for a bond as part of your application, which is part of why the state is one of the cheaper places to get commissioned. Many notaries still buy optional errors and omissions insurance, since a notary remains personally liable for mistakes even without a bond requirement, but it is a personal choice rather than a state mandate.
Is there an exam to become a West Virginia notary?
No, West Virginia does not require an exam or a training course for a traditional commission. Instead, you affirm on the application that you have read the notary law in W. Va. Code 39-4 and will follow it. The 2018 law also removed the separate oath of office: rather than swearing before another official, you answer the application questions under penalty of perjury. Reviewing the official Notary Handbook before you start is still wise, since improper notarization leaves you financially liable.
What are the requirements to become a West Virginia notary?
The West Virginia requirements are short but include one many states skip: a high school diploma or its equivalent. You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, and either a West Virginia resident or employed at an address in the state, with no disqualifying convictions. Your seal must be a rubber ink stamp, rectangular and no larger than one by two and a half inches with a border, showing "Official Seal," "Notary Public," "State of West Virginia," your name, your address, and your expiration date. West Virginia caps your fee at $5 per act.
How do you renew or notarize online in West Virginia?
You recommission by filing a new online application before expiration, since renewals are not automatic and cannot be filed more than 60 days ahead, then ordering a new stamp with the updated expiration date. West Virginia also authorizes both remote online notarization, where the signer joins by audio-video, and remote ink notarization, where the signer signs on camera and mails the paper for your ink stamp. Both require registering as an electronic notary, which has no separate filing fee, and keeping an audio-video recording.
Becoming a West Virginia notary: frequently asked questions
- Do you need a bond to be a West Virginia notary?
- No. West Virginia eliminated the bond requirement in 2018, so guides listing a $1,000 bond are outdated. Errors and omissions insurance is optional.
- Is there an exam to become a West Virginia notary?
- No. There is no exam or course; you affirm on the application that you have read the notary law in W. Va. Code 39-4.
- How long does a West Virginia notary commission last?
- Five years. Renewals are not automatic, require a new application, and cannot be filed more than 60 days before expiration.
- Do you need a high school diploma in West Virginia?
- Yes. A high school diploma or its equivalent is a stated eligibility requirement, along with being 18 and living or working in the state.
- How much can a West Virginia notary charge?
- Up to $5 per notarial act, plus a reasonable travel fee if the signer agrees to it in advance.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: West Virginia Secretary of State, Notary Public Division and the West Virginia Notary Handbook; W. Va. Code Chapter 39, Article 4 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) and House Bill 4207 (2018). Confirm current fees and steps with the West Virginia Secretary of State before applying.