How to Become a Notary Public in Kentucky

The Application Process? A Paperly Rodeo

First off, prepare for some paperwork…and I mean a rootin’ tootin’ stampede of it. You’ve got to take a state-approved class, which is actually more interesting than it sounds when the instructor is pantomiming hilarious examples of identity verification gone wrong.

Then, you’ll need a $25,000 bond – nothing like flashing some cash to prove your credibility, am I right? The application itself feels more complicated than doing taxes, between getting your John Hancock witnessed and rounding up all the supporting documents.

But hey, at least that $67 fee pays for some primo novelty notary stamps. I’ve got one that burns “OMG It’s Officially Official!” into the paper. Regulatory agencies just love me.

The Day-to-Day Notary Hustle

Once you’re commissioned, be ready to become everyone’s new best friend. Your job is to make sure identity theft is harder than robbing a bank vault guarded by snarling rabid raccoons. So you’ll be examining IDs, squinting at signatures, and putting the check-mark of authenticity on all kinds of paperwork.

Fair warning though – you may develop trust issues after being burned one too many times by those holographic.jpeg driver’s licenses. I’m permanently on high alert thanks to the guy who tried showing me his Blockbuster card as ID. Never again, my friends.

The random tasks never cease either. One minute you’re notarizing a deed transfer, the next you’re blessing Aunt Edna’s living will, and then someone’s hauling you out to the racetrack to administer an oath to a bunch of jockeys. All in a day’s work!

The Pros, The Cons, The Wildly Unexpected

Like any job, being a Kentucky notary has its ups and downs. The upside is you get to meet some true originals from all walks of life. I’ve developed wit sharper than a brawlin’ Bluegrass blade just to hang with the colorful cast of characters.

You’ll rake in some decent extra cash too, once you get efficient juggling appointments and traveling from office parks to suburban cul-de-sacs. Though making constant supplier runs for ink and embosser tabs really eats into the profit margins, let me tell you.

And be ready to deal with some prime-time skeptics convinced you’re angling to steal their identities or that your stamp is just a bamboo branding iron. I’ve had to stop people from trying to lick the notary seal for “authentication” more times than I can count.

At the end of the day though, we notaries provide an important public service – even if the general public seems to think our main gig is advertising for the latest office supplies release. We’re a fun-loving, mud-slinging, completely legitimate bunch. Just don’t make us straighten out the kinky loopholes in your paperwork…you won’t like us when we’re literal.

So if you’ve got a hunger for low-key hijinks and permanent ink stains under your fingernails, saddle up and join notary nation. Just be sure to keep your stamping hand strong and sense of humor fully loaded. This gig is a wild bucking bronco, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!