HOW DO I BECOME A NOTARY?
HOW TO BECOME A NOTARY
All notary applications must be completed online, printed and brought in person to the Harris County Courthouse. New and renewal applications are $55.00 and can be paid by cash, check, credit card or money order. Before coming to the courthouse, please be advised of the following information:
NEW APPLICATIONS
All new applications must be signed by two endorsers that are not related to you. They must be residents of Harris County and provide their home address and phone number. Both endorsers are required to sign the application.
RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
Renewal applications are valid only for those holding a current unexpired appointment from Harris County. Notaries with renewals may renew their notary commission up to 30 days prior to their expiration date. Renewal applicants who do not renew on or before the commission expiration date will be required to apply as a new notary.
👉PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ONLINE NOTARY APPLICATION
QUALIFICATIONS OF A NOTARY
To become a notary in Harris County you must meet the following qualifications:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a citizen of the United States or a legal resident of the United States.
- Be a legal resident of the county in which he or she applies (or, if a non-Georgia resident, you must reside in a state bordering Georgia and carry on a business profession in Georgia or be regularly employed in the Georgia county of application).
- Have, and provide at the time of application, the applicant’s operating telephone number.
- Be able to read and write English.
NEW NOTARY TRAINING REQUIERMENTS
As of January 1, 2025, all NEW and RENEWAL notarial applicants must complete the online notary training, and bring your certificate with the application to the Clerk's office.
👉CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE NOTARY TRAINING COURSE.
CHANGES TO NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER
Current notaries who change their name, address or phone number must submit the Notary Public Contact Information Change Form to the Harris County Clerk of Court within thirty days of the change and also provide a copy to the GSCCCA. The form will need to be signed by the notary and contain both the old information as well as the new information.
In the event of a name change, the notary must appear in person at the Clerk's office and provide a new signature sample to the clerk's office. A notary with a new name may begin to officially sign the new name when the Clerk of Superior Court has received the notice; a confirmation of the name change has been received from the Clerk of Superior Court in the form of an amended notary certificate of appointment; and a new seal bearing the new name has been obtained.
HOW DO I FILE A DEED?
As of January 1, 2025 all self filers must eFile their real estate documents. Please here to create a login and verify your identity, then follow the links to eFile your document. eFile Link
We do have terminals set up in the office for you to use to file your documents should you require the use of a computer. Our clerks are not able to assist you with filing your deed; however, the website does have step by step instructions to assist you.
HOW DO I FILE FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER?
If you are in a domestic violence situation and need assistance with obtaining a temporary protective order, please call (706) 326-1950 or (706) 326-4063 or (706) 225-3519. Legal Advocates from Hope Harbor will be able to assist victims in submitting requests for a protective order Assistance with petitions will be completed over the phone between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM and further instructions on filing will be provided.
HOW DO I FILL OUT A JURY QUESTIONNAIRE?
To access the jury questionnaire, please visit the E-Juror website. Enter your birthdate mm/dd/yyyy and your last name. Answer all required questions accurately. Then review your information and click the "Submit" button to complete the process.
HOW DO I SEARCH FOR A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER?
To search for a registered sex offender in Harris County, please visit the Harris County Sheriff's website.
👉Click here to visit the sex offender registry in Harris County
WHAT FORM DO I USE, AND WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO FILL THIS OUT?
The Clerk's Office is dedicated to assisting all individuals who seek our help. Our goal is to provide excellent cuesomer service by offering infomration and guidance on court procedures, case filings, and public records. However, it is important to understand that the Clerk and deputy clerks are strictly prohibited by State Law from practicing law or providing legal advice per state code ) O.C.G.A. 15-19-51.
What Constitutes Legal Advice?
Many individuals may not realize that certain requests involve legal advice. Below are examples of what the Clerk's Office Cannot do:
- Helping you fill out legal forms_- While we can provide blank forms ,we cannot tell you what information to write, what to include, or how to word your responses.
- Advising on what to file-- We can explain court procedures, but we cannot tell you whether you should file a particular document or what type of case to initiate.
- Explaining legal consequences-- We cannot tell you what will happen if you take or do not take a specific legal action.
- Interpreting laws or rules-- We can provide access to statutes and court rules, but we cannot interpret how they apply to your situation.
- Recommending attorneys or legal strategies-- We cannot suggest which attorney to hire or what legal arguments to make in your case.
If you require legal advice, we strongly encourage you to consult an attorney or seek assistance from legal aid organizations. The Clerk's Office is here to support you within the bounds of the law, ensuring access to court resources while maintaining impartiality.
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE TO BE FOR JURY DUTY?
To find out when and where you need to report for jury duty, you will need to either call the Jury phone number or visit the Clerk's website after 5:00 P.M. the day before you are to report.
Jury phone number (706) 628-7705
HOW DO I GET A COPY OF A DOCUMENT IN MY CASE?
To obtain a copy of a document in your case, please visit this website to request copies.
HOW DO I GET A COPY OF MY DEED?
To obtain a copy of your real estate document, lien or plat please visit this website to request your copies.
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR A TRADE NAME?
The registration form must list the name(s) and address(es) of the individual, individuals, business, or partnership that owns and operates the trade or business. It should also describe the type of business being conducted and include the trade name, partnership name, or any other name being used. If there is a change in ownership, a new or updated registration form must be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court.
You can download the registration form by using the link below. Once filed, a notice of the registration must be published in the county’s legal organ newspaper once a week for two consecutive weeks. Re-registration is not required unless ownership changes.
The filing fee is $175.00, payable to the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the business is registered. All Trade Name forms must be notarized.
To cancel a trade name registration, submit a completed “Affidavit to Cancel a Trade Name” form (available via the link below) to the Clerk of Superior Court. The fee for cancellation is $25.00.
Before submitting your registration, you must confirm that the trade name is available in Harris County and check the confirmation box at the bottom of the registration form. You can verify availability here.
The name of the legal organ in our county is the Harris County Journal. You can email their office at starmercurylegals@hotmail.com. The deadline for All publications is the Friday prior to the first run date. Notices must be sent as a word document or copied and pasted into the body of the email. You can also call the newspaper at (706) 846-3188.