(a) Any individual desiring to be a notary public shall submit application to the clerk of superior court of the county in which the individual resides or, when applying under the provisions of Code Section 45-17-7, to the clerk of superior court of the county in which the individual works or has a business. The applicant shall sign and swear or affirm as outlined in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Code section to the truthfulness of the application which shall state:

(1) That the applicant resides or works or has a business in the county of application and the address of the residence or business;

(2) That the applicant is at least 18 years old;

(3) That the applicant can read and write the English language;

(4) All denials, revocations, suspensions, restrictions, or resignations of a notary commission held by the applicant; and

(5) All criminal convictions of the applicant, including any plea of nolo contendere, except minor traffic violations.

(b) In addition to the application required in subsection (a) of this Code section, every applicant for appointment as notary public shall also submit to the clerk of superior court of the county in which the individual makes application:

(1) Endorsements from two persons who are not relatives of the applicant, who are at least 18 years old, and who reside in the county in which the individual makes application. The endorsement shall be in the following form:

I, _______________________, being 18 years of age or (name of endorser) older and a resident of ________________, believe the (name of county) applicant for a notary public commission, ___________________, who is not related to myself, to (name of applicant) be a person of integrity, good moral character, and capable of performing notarial acts.

_______________________ __________ (Signature of endorser) (Date)

_______________________ (Address of endorser)

(2) A declaration of applicant which shall have been signed in the presence of a commissioned notary public of this state. The declaration of applicant shall be in the following form:

I, _______________________, do solemnly swear or (name of applicant) affirm under penalty of perjury that the personal information I have written in this application is true, complete, and correct. __________________________ (Signature of applicant) State of _________ County of ________

On this ______ day of ______________, ____, before me appeared, _______________________, the person who signed the preceding declaration of applicant in my presence and who swore or affirmed that __________________________________________________ (he/she) understood the document and freely declared it to be truthful.

__________________________________ (Official signature of the notary) (Official seal of the notary)