Section 45-17-2. Qualifications of notaries

   (a) Any individual applying for appointment to be a notary public shall:

   (1) Be at least 18 years old;

   (2) Be a United States citizen or be a legal resident of the United States;

   (3) Be a legal resident of the county from which such individual is appointed;

   (4) Have, and provide at the time of the application, the applicant's operating telephone number; and

   (5) Be able to read and write the English language.

(b) The qualification of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to any nonresident individual applying for appointment as a notary public under the provisions of Code Section 45-17-7.

Orig. Code 1863, § 1449; Code 1868, § 1506; Code 1873, § 1500; Code 1882, § 1500; Civil Code 1895, § 501; Civil Code 1910, § 619; Code 1933, § 71-102; Ga. L. 1947, p. 1108, § 1; Ga. L. 1949, p. 1940, § 2; Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 330, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1105, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1469, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1446, § 2; Ga. L. 2007, p. 221, § 1/HB 274.