Illinois Electronic Notary System modernizes notary public applications

ILLINOIS (WIFR) - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announces Illinois residents can now apply online to become a notary public.

The new program starts August 1 and is part of the new Electronic Notary System launched by the Secretary of State’s office to modernize the application system.

“Modernizing the notary process in Illinois has made it easier for customers who want to notarize documents without having to leave their home, but we’ve also streamlined the process for prospective notaries and those renewing,” Giannoulias says. “Applicants are no longer required to submit paper forms, eliminating the cumbersome paper-based submission process and reducing processing times.”

Anyone who wants to become a notary or renew their applications must do so online.

Applicants must be an Illinois resident and will need:

A valid Illinois driver’s license or ID card
An electronic copy of their Notary Public Study Course completion certificate
An electronic copy of their completed form I263 or I264 signed and certified by a qualified surety bond company

Current notary publics who are adding an electronic notary designation will need:

An electronic copy of their electronic signature that was approved by their Electronic Notarization System Provider
The name of their Electronic Notarization System Provider

In Illinois, there are currently 148,059 notaries public and almost 600 that are also electronic notaries public.

For more information, visit their website.