Notary Public Information

The Secretary of the Commonwealth issues notary public commissions, which are claimed at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office designated by the notary public applicant on his or her application.  If Hanover County is designated as the county where the commission should be sent, the applicant can claim it and take the oath of office at the Reception Desk in the Clerk's Office on the 2nd floor of the Circuit Courthouse, 7507 Library Drive, Hanover, Virginia, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hanover County Government Complex Map and Directions.  For the best service, visit the Clerk's Office no later than 4:15 p.m.  The door to the Courthouse automatically locks at 4:30 p.m.

The Clerk’s Office can provide helpful information, but it cannot give legal advice.

Notify the Clerk’s Office at HanoverCC@courts.state.va.us, if you have questions about this web page or if any of the links do not work.

Contact Information – Notary Public

• 804-365-6120
• 804-365-6150

Obtaining a Commission as a Notary Public 

Applications for appointment as a notary public are available from every Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Notary web page or directly from the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

To become a commissioned notary, a completed application, along with a check in the amount of $45 payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, must be sent to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.  Follow the instructions on the application. 

Each notary commission is sent to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in which the applicant has elected to take the oath of office. A notice is sent to each applicant, advising that his or her commission has been issued. 

It is the applicant’s responsibility to go to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office to claim his or her commission and take the oath of office. At that time, the applicant will pay a fee of $10 to the Clerk.  Prior to going to the Hanover County Clerk’s Office, call the Reception Desk at 365-6120 or 365-6150 to confirm that the commission has been received.

If a notary commission is not claimed within sixty days from its issuance, it becomes invalid. Failure to claim the commission within sixty days is not excused for ANY REASON, including non-receipt of the notice. Thereafter, if the applicant wishes to be a notary, a new application and a new fee must be submitted.

If notice of issuance of the notary commission is not received within four weeks of mailing the application to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the applicant should call the Clerk of Court (tel. 365-6120 and 365-6150) to verify that the commission has been received. If it has not, the applicant should contact the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth:

Betsy Anderson, Notary Director
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
P.O. Box 1795
Richmond, Virginia 23218-1795
(804) 786-2441
or use the Secretary of the Commonwealth Inquiry Form

RENEWALS: There is no separate renewal process. You must file a new application prior to the expiration of your commission. It takes approximately four to six weeks to process a Notary Application.

Where can I obtain information about notaries public?

The Secretary of Commonwealth’s Notary web page has information including the Notary Application and the Notary Handbook.