{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/47.1-4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/47.1-4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/47.1-4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/47.1-4.html"}],"law_id":74388,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74388,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-4","catch_line":"Qualification for appointment","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 47-2, 47-3; 1972, c. 824; 1976, c. 559; 1979, c. 14; 1980, c. 580; 1983, c. 435; 1986, c. 561; 1989, c. 163; 2007, cc. 269, 590; 2013, c. 86.","full_text":"To be qualified to be commissioned as a notary in the Commonwealth, each such person (i) shall be at least 18 years of age, (ii) shall be a legal resident of the United States, (iii) shall be able to read and write the English language, (iv) shall never have been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth, or any other state, unless such person has been pardoned for such felony, has had his conviction vacated by the granting of a writ of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored, and (v) shall otherwise be in compliance with the provisions of this title. A nonresident of Virginia may register and be commissioned as a notary only if he is regularly employed in the Commonwealth and meets all of the requirements of this section. A member of the armed services of the United States shall be eligible to register and be commissioned as a notary notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 2.2-2800.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267339,"text":"To be qualified to be commissioned as a notary in the Commonwealth, each such person (i) shall be at least 18 years of age, (ii) shall be a legal resident of the United States, (iii) shall be able to read and write the English language, (iv) shall never have been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth, or any other state, unless such person has been pardoned for such felony, has had his conviction vacated by the granting of a writ of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored, and (v) shall otherwise be in compliance with the provisions of this title. A nonresident of Virginia may register and be commissioned as a notary only if he is regularly employed in the Commonwealth and meets all of the requirements of this section. A member of the armed services of the United States shall be eligible to register and be commissioned as a notary notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 2.2-2800.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15929,"edition_id":1,"name":"Appointment","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13724,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:02:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:02:12","permalink":{"id":232937,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15929,"identifier":"2","token":"47.1\/2","url":"\/47.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13724,"edition_id":1,"name":"Notaries and Out-Of-State Commissioners","identifier":"47.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","permalink":{"id":232925,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13724,"identifier":"47.1","token":"47.1","url":"\/47.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63019,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-10","catch_line":"Records of the Secretary","url":"\/47.1-10\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-10","metadata":false},{"id":64000,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-11","catch_line":"Reference materials","url":"\/47.1-11\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-11","metadata":false},{"id":76958,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-11.1","catch_line":"Evidence of authenticity of electronic notarial act","url":"\/47.1-11.1\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-11.1","metadata":false},{"id":61916,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-3","catch_line":"Power of appointment","url":"\/47.1-3\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-3","metadata":false},{"id":74388,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-4","catch_line":"Qualification for appointment","url":"\/47.1-4\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-4","metadata":false},{"id":74892,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-5","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/47.1-5\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-5","metadata":false},{"id":74778,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-5.1","catch_line":"Application for recommission","url":"\/47.1-5.1\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-5.1","metadata":false},{"id":85091,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-6","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/47.1-6\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-6","metadata":false},{"id":77120,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-6.1","catch_line":"Standards for electronic notarization","url":"\/47.1-6.1\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":86908,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-7","catch_line":"Additional requirements for performing electronic notarial acts","url":"\/47.1-7\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-7","metadata":false},{"id":70373,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-8","catch_line":"Commission to be issued, etc","url":"\/47.1-8\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-8","metadata":false},{"id":63757,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-9","catch_line":"Oath of notary; duties of clerks","url":"\/47.1-9\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61916,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-3","catch_line":"Power of appointment","url":"\/47.1-3\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-3","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74892,"structure_id":15929,"section_number":"47.1-5","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/47.1-5\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-5","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/47.1-4\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1972, chapter 824; in 1976, chapter 559; in 1979, chapter 14; in 1980, chapter 580; in 1983, chapter 435; in 1986, chapter 561; in 1989, chapter 163; in 2007, chapters 269<\/a> and 590<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 86<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":68109,"section_number":"2.2-2800","catch_line":"Disability to hold state office","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2800\/"}],"permalink":{"id":232955,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74388,"identifier":"47.1-4","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-4","url":"\/47.1-4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/47.1-4\/","token":"47.1\/2\/47.1-4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Qualification for appointment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 47.1-4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

To be qualified to be commissioned as a notary<\/span> in the Commonwealth, each such person (i) shall be at least 18 years of age, (ii) shall be a legal resident of the United States<\/span>, (iii) shall be able to read and write the English language, (iv) shall never have been convicted of a felony<\/span> under the laws<\/span> of the United States<\/span>, the Commonwealth, or any other state<\/span>, unless such person has been pardoned for such felony<\/span>, has had his conviction<\/span> vacated by the granting of a writ<\/span> of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored, and (v) shall otherwise be in compliance with the provisions of this title. A nonresident of Virginia may register and be commissioned as a notary<\/span> only if he is regularly employed in the Commonwealth and meets all of the requirements of this section. A member of the armed services of the United States<\/span> shall be eligible to register and be commissioned as a notary<\/span> notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 2.2-2800<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nQUALIFICATION FOR APPOINTMENT (\u00a7 47.1-4)\n\nTo be qualified to be commissioned as a notary in the Commonwealth, each such\nperson (i) shall be at least 18 years of age, (ii) shall be a legal resident of\nthe United States, (iii) shall be able to read and write the English language,\n(iv) shall never have been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United\nStates, the Commonwealth, or any other state, unless such person has been\npardoned for such felony, has had his conviction vacated by the granting of a\nwrit of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored, and (v) shall\notherwise be in compliance with the provisions of this title. A nonresident of\nVirginia may register and be commissioned as a notary only if he is regularly\nemployed in the Commonwealth and meets all of the requirements of this section.\nA member of the armed services of the United States shall be eligible to\nregister and be commissioned as a notary notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7\n2.2-2800.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 47-2, 47-3; 1972, c. 824; 1976, c. 559; 1979, c. 14;\n1980, c. 580; 1983, c. 435; 1986, c. 561; 1989, c. 163; 2007, cc. 269, 590;\n2013, c. 86.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}