Notary Compliance in Virginia

Notaries public commissioned in Virginia must follow Virginia state law. Core requirements: no surety bond is required, holding a valid Virginia notary commission (renewed every 4 years), no mandatory course, and charging no more than the Virginia fee schedule ($5 per notarial act). Virginia does not statutorily require a journal for traditional acts, though keeping one is best practice.

A compliant Virginia mobile notary will present a state-issued commission certificate on request, carry their official seal, carry errors-and-omissions coverage (recommended even where no bond is required), and never charge more than the Virginia statutory maximum ($5 per notarial act). Always confirm the commission expiration date before signing.

Virginia notaries can perform acknowledgments (confirming a signer's identity and willingness), jurats (administering an oath that a document's contents are true), copy certifications, and — where the state has authorized it — remote online notarization (RON) through an approved platform.

No. Mobile notaries in Virginia operate under the standard Virginia notary public commission — there is no separate "mobile notary" license. Loan signing agents often add voluntary certification through the National Notary Association (NNA) or the Signing Professionals Workgroup (SPW), which title companies frequently request for mortgage signings.

Frequently notarized Virginia documents include real estate deeds and mortgage packages, powers of attorney, affidavits and sworn statements, trust and estate paperwork, vehicle title transfers, and international documents needing an apostille. Loan signings for purchases and refinances make up a large share of mobile notary work across Virginia.