For Notaries · West Virginia
How to Become a Notary Public in West Virginia
To become a notary in West Virginia, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, live or work in the state, read and write English, and hold a high school diploma. No surety bond, exam, or course is required—simply file your application and pay the $52 state fee for a five-year commission.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
West Virginia notaries are appointed by the Governor and regulated by the Secretary of State's Notary Division, which makes commissioning refreshingly simple. You apply entirely online through the Enterprise Registration and Licensing System, pay the $52 filing fee, and receive a five-year commission—no surety bond, no training course, and no exam stand in your way. After reading the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts and affirming under penalty of perjury that you will follow it, most applicants are commissioned within two to three weeks. Once you have your seal, you can also apply to add remote online notarization at no extra state cost, letting you notarize for signers in almost any location.
West Virginia Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | Must be at least 18 years old; a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; a resident of West Virginia or a resident of another state who works at an office address in West Virginia; able to read and write English; and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must not be disqualified under W. Va. Code §39-4-21 (e.g., felony or fraud/dishonesty convictions, or a commission revoked in another state). |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | No surety bond required. West Virginia eliminated the former $1,000 bond requirement under House Bill 4207, effective June 3, 2018. Errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance is optional but not mandated. |
| State filing fee | $52.00 filing fee (Application for Appointment as a Notary Public). The fee is waived for state and local government notaries with a certifying letter from the head of the government office; federal employees are not eligible for the waiver. |
| Commission term | 5 years |
| Notary education | Not required. No state-mandated training course to become a West Virginia notary. Applicants must read the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (W. Va. Code §39-4) and affirm they will follow it; a high school diploma or equivalent is the only education prerequisite. |
| Exam | Not required. West Virginia does not require a proctored or written exam to become a notary public. |
West Virginia requires no surety bond, charges a $52 filing fee, and issues a five-year notary commission. — West Virginia Secretary of State — Applying for a Notary Public Commission
How to Become a Notary in West Virginia: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you are eligible
Verify you are at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, live or work in West Virginia, can read and write English, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and are not disqualified under §39-4-21.
- 2
Read the notary law
Read the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (W. Va. Code §39-4). On the application you will affirm under penalty of perjury that you have read and will follow it—there is no separate course or exam.
- 3
Submit your application and state fee
Complete the Application for Appointment as a Notary Public online through the Enterprise Registration and Licensing System (erls.wvsos.gov) and pay the $52 state fee to the Secretary of State's Notary Division.
- 4
Receive your commission and order your seal
After processing (about two to three weeks), you receive your commission letter, certificate valid for five years, and Notary Handbook. Order a rubber-stamp seal that matches the exact details in your commission letter.
- 5
Start notarizing—and add online notarization
Once your commission certificate arrives you may begin notarizing. To notarize electronically or remotely, choose a state-approved vendor and file the free Application for E-Notarization Authorization.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in West Virginia
Remote online notarization is operative in West Virginia. To perform RON (and other electronic notarial acts), you must first hold or be applying for a traditional commission, choose a state-approved technology vendor, and submit the Application for E-Notarization Authorization through the Enterprise Registration and Licensing System. There is no state fee for the e-notarization authorization; only the private RON platform charges a fee. Once authorized, WV notaries may perform RONs for signers in almost any location.
Online / remote notary application fee: No state fee for the E-Notarization Authorization application (RON platform/vendor fees are separate).
RON authorized effective June 17, 2021; electronic notarization governed by W. Va. Code §39-4-19.
See how RON is authorized in West Virginia — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the West Virginia remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in West Virginia instead? Notarize online with a West Virginia commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in West Virginia
West Virginia allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a West Virginia commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in West Virginia? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in West Virginia?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application/filing fee | $52.00 (waived for government notaries) |
| Surety bond | $0 — not required |
| Education / exam | $0 — not required |
| Rubber-stamp seal | ~$30 (varies by supplier) |
| E&O insurance (optional) | Varies by supplier |
| E-Notarization / RON authorization | No state fee (platform fees separate) |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a West Virginia Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. West Virginia caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $10 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $10 |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how West Virginia compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in West Virginia
Commission term in West Virginia
5 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your West Virginia Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How West Virginia notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a West Virginia notary commission last?
A West Virginia notary commission is valid for five years. Government-employee notaries are an exception—their commission expires when their employment with the agency ends. You may apply to renew no earlier than 60 days before your expiration date.
How much does it cost to become a notary in West Virginia?
The state filing fee is $52. Because no surety bond, course, or exam is required, the main additional cost is a rubber-stamp seal (roughly $30, varying by supplier). Total out-of-pocket cost is typically under $100.
Is a class or exam required to become a West Virginia notary?
No. West Virginia does not require a training course or an exam. Applicants must read the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (W. Va. Code §39-4) and affirm they will follow it, and must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Who appoints and regulates notaries in West Virginia?
Notaries are appointed by the Governor and regulated by the West Virginia Secretary of State's Notary Division in Charleston. You apply and pay online through the Secretary of State's Enterprise Registration and Licensing System.
Can West Virginia notaries perform remote online notarization?
Yes. Effective June 17, 2021, commissioned West Virginia notaries may perform remote online notarization. You must choose a state-approved technology vendor and file the Application for E-Notarization Authorization, which has no state fee.
How much can a notary charge in West Virginia?
West Virginia's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $10, per act or signature.
How much can a West Virginia notary charge for online notarization?
West Virginia's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $10, against $10 in person.
When does a West Virginia notary commission expire?
The West Virginia commission term is: 5 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the West Virginia cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby South Atlantic guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- WV Secretary of State — Applying for a Notary Public Commission
- WV Secretary of State — Notary Public Forms and Fees
- National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in West Virginia
This guide summarizes public requirements from West Virginia's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.