Become a notary in New Hampshire

Where to register

Applications go to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Open their page for the current application, not a StampSide form.

• Commissioning page

  New Hampshire Secretary of State

  https://sos.nh.gov/administration/administration/notary-public

• Confirm standing with the commissioning office

  Confirm standing with the New Hampshire Secretary of State using the commissioning page above.

Requirements

What the official page states. If a topic is missing here, that page did not spell it out.

Residents

At least 18 and a New Hampshire resident (SOS notary page).

Abutting-state residents

Effective August 4, 2019: resident of Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont; regularly employed or carrying on a trade, business, or practice in New Hampshire at the time of applying; and a registered notary public in the home state. Use the abutting-state application plus the Affidavit of Employment.

Endorsements and criminal-record check

Two New Hampshire notaries public and one registered New Hampshire voter must endorse the application. Complete the Acknowledgement of Criminal Record Check on the back. The SOS uses that form to check the N.H. State Police database.

Fee (as posted)

$75, check to “State of New Hampshire” or cash, mailed with the original application to Secretary of State’s Office, Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301.

Term

Five years from the date the Governor and Executive Council confirm the appointment.

How to get started

1. 01

   Complete the SOS application and criminal-record acknowledgement

   Download it or request it at (603) 271-3242 / [email protected]. Mail the original — not a copy.

2. 02

   Wait through nomination and appointment

   The SOS page: 8–10 weeks. State Police check, then nomination by the Governor and Executive Council, then appointment at a later meeting. Within a week of appointment you receive the commission, oath, and the Notary Public and Justice of the Peace Manual.

3. 03

   Take the oath and return it

   RSA 92:2: sign and take the oath before two justices of the peace, or two notaries public, or one of each. Those who take the oath also sign the commission. Return the oath to the SOS; they cannot certify you as qualified until it is on file. Keep the commission.

4. 04

   Register on StampSide

   After you use the New Hampshire Secretary of State site, create a public page: photo, where you work, and how clients reach you. Share the URL on emails and invoices. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

Processing time

The New Hampshire SOS notary page says once they receive the application, processing takes 8–10 weeks.

Tools after you apply

Official pages and named suppliers already listed in this product. Checkout is on their site — StampSide does not sell stamps.

• Stamp or seal

  Acknowledgements must be under an official seal or official rubber stamp. Seal: name, “Notary Public,” “New Hampshire,” plus a separate stamp for the expiration date. Rubber stamp: those three plus the expiration date on the same stamp. The SOS does not provide stamps. New Hampshire does not issue commission numbers — write N/A if asked.

  Named suppliers on StampSide

• Journal

  New Hampshire law does not require a journal. The SOS page notes that the National Notary Association recommends one.

  Notary Rotary

• More suppliers

  Notary Rotary, Notary.net, and the National Notary Association are on the supplies list. State-specific seals only.

  StampSide supplies list

More official pages

• New Hampshire SOS notary public
• Notary Public and Justice of the Peace Manual (PDF)