New Hampshire notaries are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Executive Council. The unusual part: your application needs three endorsers — two current NH notaries plus one registered NH voter. There's no bond and no exam, but processing takes 8-10 weeks.
Under RSA 455-A and the Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RSA 456-B), the requirements are:
New Hampshire's costs are moderate — the $75 application fee is the main expense. No bond, no exam, no course.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State application fee | Required | $75 |
| Notary stamp/seal (ink stamp or embosser) | Required | $15–$35 |
| Notary journal | Optional but recommended | $10–$25 |
| Surety bond | Not required | $0 |
| Education course | Not required | $0 |
| Written exam | Not required | $0 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $90–$135 |
New Hampshire's application must be mailed with original signatures (no digital signatures). You'll need to line up three endorsers before you apply — two of them must be current NH notaries. Processing takes 8-10 weeks because your application goes through a State Police criminal records check, then to the Governor and Executive Council for nomination and confirmation.
New Hampshire's process runs through the Governor and Executive Council, so it takes 8-10 weeks.
Get the application from the NH Secretary of State website, or request it by phone (603-271-3242) or email. Complete both sides — the back includes the Acknowledgement of Criminal Record Check.
You need two current New Hampshire notaries public and one registered New Hampshire voter to endorse your application, attesting to your character. Plan ahead to line these up.
Mail the ORIGINAL completed application (original signatures required — no digital signatures) with the $75 fee to: Secretary of State's Office, Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301.
The SOS uses your Acknowledgement of Criminal Record Check to query the NH State Police database. Your application then goes to the Governor and Executive Council for nomination and confirmation.
Within a week of your appointment, you'll receive your commission, oath, and the Notary Public and Justice of the Peace Manual. Sign and take your oath of office before one notary public AND one justice of the peace — both should also sign your commission.
Return the signed oath to the SOS as soon as possible. Until they have your oath on file, the SOS cannot certify that you are qualified to act as a notary. Then order your stamp.
New Hampshire notaries can perform these acts statewide under RSA 456-B:
New Hampshire allows notary-set fees — no statutory hard caps:
Manchester, Nashua, and the Seacoast region (Portsmouth) are the main markets. New Hampshire's lack of state income tax and its location within the Boston metro orbit drive strong real estate activity — Nashua and the southern tier benefit from Massachusetts buyers, and the Seacoast has a robust property market.
New Hampshire authorized RON. To perform RON in New Hampshire:
Your New Hampshire commission is valid for 5 years from the date the Governor and Executive Council confirm your appointment.
Renewal follows essentially the same process as the initial application — including the three endorsers, the criminal record check, and the $75 fee. Start early because of the 8-10 week processing time. If your commission lapses, you reapply as a new applicant.
New Hampshire is one of a handful of states where notaries are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Executive Council (RSA 455-A). This is a historical structure. The practical effect: your application goes through a nomination/confirmation process, which is why processing takes 8-10 weeks rather than the 1-2 weeks typical of Secretary-of-State-only states.
You need two current NH notaries and one registered NH voter. The notary endorsers can be colleagues, your bank's notary, a UPS Store notary you know, etc. The registered voter can be any NH-registered voter who'll vouch for your character — a neighbor, friend, or coworker. Line these up before mailing your application.
Yes. Your commission is statewide once your oath is on file with the Secretary of State.
Yes, with conditions. New Hampshire allows residents of abutting states (Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont) who are regularly employed or carry on a business in NH — but you must ALSO already hold a notary commission in your home state, and you'll attach an Affidavit of Employment.
New Hampshire requires your oath of office to be administered before one notary public AND one justice of the peace. Both should sign your commission as well. It's a NH-specific procedural requirement under RSA 92:2. Justices of the peace are common in NH — the SOS can help you locate one.
Correct. New Hampshire does not require a surety bond or a notary exam. There's also no education course. The three-endorser requirement and the criminal record check serve as the vetting mechanism instead. E&O insurance is recommended for personal protection.
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