In West Virginia, the minimum age requirement to become a notary public is 18 years old. This is in line with many other states' requirements for notaries.
West Virginia requires notaries to obtain a $10,000 surety bond as part of their commissioning process. This bond protects the public against any mistakes or misconduct by the notary.
If a notary moves to a new address within West Virginia, they must notify the Secretary of State’s office of their new address. This ensures that the notary’s contact information is up-to-date in the official records.
Notaries in West Virginia are not authorized to provide legal advice. They can perform oaths, affirmations, acknowledgments, and certify copies of documents, but they must avoid offering legal counsel.
In West Virginia, a notary commission is valid for 4 years. After this period, a notary must renew their commission to continue performing notarial duties.
