How to become a loan signing agent in New York
New York commissions notaries through its Department of State after a written exam, and it is one of the states that requires every notary — including those who only work in person — to keep a journal. The statutory fee for an acknowledgment is $2 per signer.
Sources checked September 28, 2026
New York at a glance
- Commission term
- Four years.New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (Executive Law §§ 130–137, 19 NYCRR 182)
- Exam
- Required: $15, one hour, multiple choice. A pass is valid for two years. New York attorneys and qualifying court clerks are exempt.New York Department of State — Become a Notary Public
- Course
- The Department of State lists no course among its requirements. The exam covers the notary law.New York Department of State — Become a Notary Public
- Bond
- The Department of State lists no bond among its requirements.New York Department of State — Become a Notary Public
- Application fee
- $60, filed online with the Department of State. Renewal is also $60.New York Department of State — Become a Notary Public
- Fee per notarial act
- $2 for an oath or affirmation; $2 per signer for an acknowledgment.New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (Executive Law §§ 130–137, 19 NYCRR 182)
- Journal
- Required for every notary since January 25, 2023, and kept for at least ten years.New York Department of State — Notary Public FAQ
- Remote notarization
- Allowed after registering with the Department of State ($60). You must be physically in New York; the signer may be elsewhere.New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (Executive Law §§ 130–137, 19 NYCRR 182)
Getting commissioned
- 1
Check that you qualify
You must be at least 18 and either live in New York or have an office or place of business there. A felony conviction generally rules out appointment.
- 2
Pass the notary exam
Outside New York City the exam is walk-in, with no pre-registration. In New York City it is booked by email — check the current schedule before you go. Bring the exam fee; cash is not accepted.
New York Department of State — Notary exam information and schedule
- 3
Have your oath of office notarized
The application needs the Oath of Office (form DOS-2201), notarized, as a scanned PDF — not a photo.
New York Department of State — Notary Public Application Guidance
- 4
Apply online
File through NY Business Express with your passing exam slip, the oath and the $60 fee.
- 5
Receive your commission
You are commissioned in your county of residence, and the Department of State sends your record to that county clerk.
Loan signings in New York
You present the documents; you do not explain their legal effect
A New York notary who is not an attorney may not give legal advice, and Judiciary Law § 484 bars non-attorneys from being paid to prepare deeds, mortgages or other real-estate instruments. At a loan signing you identify the signers, walk them through where to sign and notarize — questions about what a document means go to the lender or the attorney.
New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (Executive Law §§ 130–137, 19 NYCRR 182)
Record every signing in your journal
For each act: the date, approximate time and type; the name and address of each signer; the type of ID and how you verified identity. Keep it at least ten years.
New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (Executive Law §§ 130–137, 19 NYCRR 182)
Who attends the closing
We found no New York statute or Department of State rule that bars a non-attorney notary from a loan signing. Who attends a particular closing is decided by the lender and the title company.
Remote signings
Remote ink notarization ended on January 31, 2023. Signing remotely now requires registering as an electronic notary, and the audio-video recording must be kept for ten years.
From commission to your first closing
The commission is what the state asks for. Title and escrow companies usually ask for more before they send a loan package: errors and omissions insurance, a background screening, and the equipment to print a full package and return scanned pages the same day. On Dr. Signing, a company can require a dual-tray printer or a scanner on an order, and only profiles that list them receive it — so list what you have.
Once you are commissioned
List your profile for free. Companies find you in the New York directory, and the closings they post inside your travel radius come to you by email.
This page summarizes the law; it is not legal advice. The statute and the commissioning office decide, and they change — follow the source links before you rely on a number.