Where to get a document notarized in Georgia
If your claim or any other paperwork needs a notary, here’s every practical way to get it done — free options near you, walk-in spots, a notary who comes to your door, and notarization from home by webcam. Most in-person notarization in Georgia is free or just $2 a signature.
Do you even need a notary?
Not every claim does. After you submit online, the State of Georgia generates a claim form that tells you whether a notarized signature is required for your claim. It’s most common for estate and heir claims, business claims, claims filed under a power of attorney, and some higher-value individual claims. Always follow the instructions printed on the form itself.
Already a Full-Service client? Your one authorization form (the CDR-2) arrives pre-filled — you only sign it in front of a notary. Your own bank usually does it free, or an online session with Proof works from home. Your client guide and portal dashboard walk through both.
In person, near you
Free and low-cost notaries close to home
Georgia caps the notary’s fee at $2 per signature, so the right in-person spot is free or nearly free. Call ahead — a notary isn’t always on duty.
Start here
Free options
Your own bank or credit union
Usually freeCall ahead — not every branch has a notary on shift
The single best free option for most people. Most major banks and credit unions notarize at no charge for their own account holders. Bring proof you’re a customer (debit card or account number). Heads-up: many banks won’t notarize real-estate or will documents, so say what it’s for when you call.
Your public library
Free or ~$2Walk-in during posted notary hours — call to confirm the branch participates
Many Georgia library systems offer free or near-free notary service — Fulton, DeKalb, Houston, Augusta-Richmond, Middle Georgia, and Savannah’s Live Oak among them. A great no-cost route if you don’t have a bank account. Service often stops ~30 minutes before closing.
AAA branch (members)
Often free for membersBy appointment at select branches — members only
A frequently overlooked perk if you’re a AAA member. Whether it’s free can depend on your membership tier and regional club, so call your local branch to confirm before you go.
No account needed
Walk-in for a couple dollars
The UPS Store
~$2 / signature in GAWalk-in at most locations — call first to confirm a notary is in
Over 4,700 locations and convenient for evenings and weekends. Because Georgia caps the notarial act at $2 per signature, a Georgia UPS Store generally can’t charge more than that for the notarization itself (copy/print fees are separate). The fee is per signature, not per document.
Pack-and-ship & mailbox stores
~$2 / signature in GAWalk-in at many — independently owned, so call ahead
Independent shipping, mailbox, and print shops very commonly keep a notary on staff. In suburban and rural areas these are often the easiest walk-in option. Search “notary near me” plus “shipping” or “mailbox.”
Office-supply & some pharmacies
Varies — call firstHighly location-dependent
Some Office Depot, Walgreens, and CVS stores have a notary; many don’t, and Staples steers you to an online service. Walmart does not notarize. A useful backup — but always call the specific store before driving over.
Already in the system
Offices that may help
Your attorney, title, real-estate, or insurance office
Often free for clientsBy appointment — often a courtesy
If a lawyer, title company, or agent is already handling related paperwork, they almost always have an in-house notary — and many will notarize a quick document free as a goodwill courtesy, sometimes even for non-clients. Worth a phone call.
County Clerk of Superior Court or Probate Court
$2 per actBusiness hours, often by appointment — varies by county
The Clerk of Superior Court is where Georgia notaries are commissioned. Clerk and county staff can often notarize, and Probate Court is convenient if you’re already there for estate paperwork — but the office’s main job is processing commissions, so confirm they’ll notarize your document before going.
Can’t travel?
A notary who comes to you
Mobile / traveling notary (comes to you)
~$50–$95 in metro AtlantaBy appointment — many offer evenings, weekends, and same-day
Georgia caps only the $2 act fee — travel, after-hours, and handling fees are set freely by the notary, which is why mobile costs more than a bank or library. Confirm the all-in price up front. This is the go-to when the signer can’t travel or you need multiple signers at home.
At a hospital, hospice, or nursing home
Staff notary (free) or mobileBy appointment — coordinate with facility staff
First ask the social worker, case manager, or administrator — many facilities keep an on-staff notary or a vetted list. Otherwise hire a mobile notary experienced with patient signings. The signer must be alert and aware (a notary can decline if someone seems confused or heavily medicated), have valid photo ID present, and the document filled in.
Helping an older parent or a relative who can’t get out? Don’t make them travel — bring the notary to them with a mobile notary, or do it by webcam if they’re alert and have a photo ID and a phone or computer (a helper can sit with them). In a hospital, hospice, or nursing home, ask the social worker or administrator first — many keep a staff notary or a trusted list. The signer must be aware of what they’re signing and have valid ID present; a notary verifies identity and willingness only, and can’t assess medical capacity or give legal advice.
Fastest option
Notarize from home, by webcam
No appointment, no driving, no waiting room. With remote online notarization you connect to a commissioned notary by video, show your ID, and sign — typically in about 15 minutes, any hour of the day.
- Around $25, paid directly to Proof — you never pre-pay us for it
- Available 24/7 from a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera
- Ideal if you’re homebound, short on time, or far from a notary
Proof (formerly Notarize.com). Reclaim earns a referral commission from Proof when you complete a notarization through our link. This does not change your price.
Before you pay — one check
A Georgia notary can’t perform online notarization yet, but Georgia recognizes an out-of-state online notarization, so these services work for Georgians today. Georgia’s DOR also accepts remote notarizations under Policy Bulletin ADMIN-2025-03.
For a claim you file directly with the state, read the notarization instructions on your claim form first. If it requires notarization but doesn’t say whether remote is okay, call Georgia DOR Unclaimed Property at (855) 329-9863 to confirm before you pay — a two-minute call that saves a wasted session.
Know the Georgia $2 rule
Georgia law caps what a notary may charge for the act itself at $2.00 per signature (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11). That’s why a bank, library, or UPS Store is free or nearly free. Two things cost more, and that’s legal:
- Mobile notaries add a travel fee — separate from the $2 act and not capped by the state — so an at-home visit commonly runs $50–$95 in metro Atlanta.
- Online services set their own price (around $25) because the notary is commissioned in another state — you’re paying for the convenience and the technology, not a Georgia act fee.
Bottom line: if you can get to a bank, library, or shipping store, in-person is the cheapest by far. Mobile and online are worth it when getting there is the hard part.
What to bring
- The unsigned document — don’t sign it beforehand; you sign in the notary’s presence.
- The document filled in everywhere except the signature and date lines (notaries can’t fill it out for you).
- A valid, unexpired government photo ID — driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID — with a name that matches the document.
- Every person who has to sign, in person and together.
- Any required witnesses (some affidavits and wills need them) — each with their own valid photo ID.
- Payment — in Georgia the act is just $2 per signature, but mobile and online services add their own fees.
- Name-change paperwork if your current name differs from older records — marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.
How to find one near you
- Start with what’s free: call your own bank or credit union first, then your local library.
- Always call ahead — the notary isn’t always on duty, even at a bank, library, or UPS Store. A 30-second call saves a wasted trip.
- Search “notary near me” plus a venue word — “notary near me UPS,” “notary library [your county] GA,” or “mobile notary [your city] GA.” Add “free notary” to surface no-cost options.
- Use a locator directory: the National Notary Association’s “Find a Notary,” NotaryRotary.com (search by ZIP), or 123notary.com (browse by city/county). These list mobile notaries and let you filter for hospital experience.
- Ask people you already deal with — your bank, attorney, title or real-estate agent, or insurance agent often has an in-house notary.
- Confirm before you go that the venue will notarize your document type — banks often decline real-estate and will documents.
Questions
Notary questions, answered
Do I need a notary for my Georgia unclaimed property claim?
Sometimes. The claim form the Georgia Department of Revenue generates after you submit online will tell you whether a notarized signature is required for your specific claim. Notarization is most common for estate and heir claims, business claims, claims filed under a power of attorney, and some higher-value individual claims. Follow the instructions printed on the form itself.
Where can I get something notarized for free?
Start with your own bank or credit union — most notarize free for account holders. Your public library is the next-best free option in Georgia, and AAA members can often get it free at a branch. Attorneys, title companies, and insurance agents you already work with will frequently do a quick one as a courtesy.
How much does a notary cost in Georgia?
Georgia law caps the notarial act itself at $2.00 per signature (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11). So in-person notarization is free or nearly free at most banks, libraries, and shipping stores. Mobile notaries who travel to you and online platforms charge more — those convenience and travel fees are separate from the $2 act fee and aren’t capped by the state.
Can I get a document notarized online in Georgia?
Yes. A Georgia-commissioned notary can’t perform remote online notarization (RON) yet, but Georgia recognizes an out-of-state online notarization, so you can complete one by webcam today through a service like Proof. For a claim filed directly with the state, check the notarization instructions on your claim form first — and if it requires notarization but doesn’t say whether remote is acceptable, confirm with Georgia DOR Unclaimed Property at (855) 329-9863 before you pay.
What do I need to bring to a notary?
Bring the unsigned document (don’t sign it beforehand — you sign in front of the notary), filled in everywhere except the signature line; a valid, unexpired government photo ID whose name matches the document; every person who has to sign; any required witnesses with their own ID; and payment. A notary can’t draft the document, tell you what to write, or give legal advice.
I’m homebound or in a care facility — can a notary come to me?
Yes. Hire a mobile notary who comes to the home, hospital, or nursing facility (budget the $2 act fee plus a travel fee — roughly $50–$95 in metro Atlanta), or use online notarization by webcam if the person is alert and has a smartphone or computer and valid ID. For someone in a hospital or nursing home, ask the social worker or administrator first — many facilities keep a staff notary or a vetted list.
Once it’s notarized, you’re ready to file
Haven’t found your money yet? Start with a free search — and if a claim turns out to need a notary, you’ll know exactly where to go.
You can always file directly with the State of Georgia for free at gaclaims.unclaimedproperty.com or by calling (855) 329-9863. This guide is free whether or not you ever use Reclaim Georgia.