North Carolina Secretary of State Notary Notary Initial Exam

WEATHER UPDATE The Secretary of State's Office will be open to the public as usual the morning of Friday, December 10. However, we are closely monitoring the weather situation. With a Winter Storm Warning beginning at 1pm on Friday for Central NC, the office may close early to the public for safety reasons. Please check back before coming on Friday afternoon. We encourage you to use our online services if possible. Thank you.

Emergency Video Notarization Emergency Video Notarization is Back! Following a vote in the NC Senate to override the veto of House Bill 556, Emergency Video Notarization (EVN) is again available to all NC Notaries. Emergency Video Notarizations are extended until July 1, 2025 at 12:01 am.

Save Time, File Online The NC Department of Secretary of State is entering its seasonal busy season. Combined with continued staffing shortages, this means there will be delays processing Annual Reports and other business organization documents. The delays are greatest for mailed filings. We strongly urge our customers to save time and file their documents online if at all possible. Mailed filings currently require 10 to 15 days to process, compared to 5 days or less for documents filed online. Save time, file online.

Scam Alert The NC Secretary of State has learned of a new scam targeting small business owners. Scammers impersonating various law enforcement agencies are contacting business owners claiming they are being investigated for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, regardless of whether or not they have been repaid or forgiven. To legitimize the claim, the scammers provide elaborate phony court and/or legal documentation, including documents describing an arrest warrant that purports to require the posting of a cash bond and then instructions to make a payment (through a cryptocurrency kiosk) to resolve the warrant and avoid jail time. Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not collect money over the phone.

WARNING: COUNTERFEIT NOTARY MANUAL A counterfeit Notary Manual is being sold online.You can purchase the NC Secretary of State's authorized edition online at the UNC School of Government or in person at your local NC Community College bookstore.

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