Notary Public Permit Requirements in Birmingham, AL

Complete permit and license guide for starting a notary public in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.

Verified 2026-09-03 5 stops $75–$350 est. 2–4 weeks to complete all steps and receive commission
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you operate as an LLC/corporation or have employees. Sole proprietor notaries with no employees may use their SSN.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online)

State of Alabama

3 stops

  1. Alabama Notary Public Commission (county probate court)

    Alabama notary commissions are applied for through your county probate court, not the Secretary of State - the Secretary of State's notary page is only a public records search of existing commissions. Applicants must be Alabama residents and at least 18, and must post a surety bond; the bond amount, application fee and processing time are set locally and are not published on the state site.

    Official government source

    Not published by the state; bond amount and filing fee are set by the county probate court - confirm with your probate judge's officeNot published; confirm with your county probate judge's office

  2. Alabama Notary Surety Bond

    Alabama notaries must file a surety bond with the county probate court before receiving their commission. The required bond amount could not be confirmed from an official state source — confirm the current amount and the premium with your county probate judge's office.

    Official government source

    Not confirmed; bond premiums are set by the surety, not billed as a fixed annual government fee — confirm with your county probate judge's officeNot published; confirm with your county probate judge's office

  3. Notary Errors & Omissions Insurance (not required in Alabama)

    Errors & omissions insurance is optional for Alabama notaries and protects the notary personally against losses from unintentional mistakes. It is separate from, and does not replace, the surety bond Alabama notaries must file with the county probate court before receiving their commission - the bond protects the public, not the notary. Coverage amounts and prices vary by provider; national notary associations sell it bundled with supplies.

    Official government source

    No state fee; E&O premiums are set by the insurer and vary with the coverage amount chosen, and no Alabama agency publishes a figure - request quotes from providersNot published; coverage is bound by the insurer

City of Birmingham / Jefferson County

1 stop

  1. City of Birmingham Finance Department, Tax and License Division - Business License (if operating a notary business)

    If you operate a standalone notary business (mobile notary, signing agent services) in Birmingham, you generally need a business license from the City of Birmingham Finance Department's Tax and License Division - not the City Clerk's Office. If notarization is incidental to another profession (attorney, bank teller), a separate business license may not be required.

    Official government source

    Gross-receipts based: a minimum license is charged at initial application, then after 90 days you file a sworn affidavit of actual receipts, annualized to set the real liability (City of Birmingham Business License Code)Not published by the city; confirm current processing time with the Tax and License Division (205-254-2198)

Terminus

Open for business — est. $75–$350 · 2–4 weeks to complete all steps and receive commission

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