2017 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 42 - State Affairs and Government
Chapter 42-30 - Notaries Public and Justices of the Peace
Section 42-30-5 - Application for appointment.
§ 42-30-5. Application for appointment.
(a) Application. Any individual desiring to be appointed a notary public, or a justice of the peace, shall make written application to the governor over his or her own signature.
(b) Qualifications of applicants.
(1) Person qualified for a notary public commission shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and reside legally or conduct business on a regular basis within Rhode Island.
(2) The applicant for appointment to the office of notary public or justice of the peace can speak, read, and write the English language and has sufficient knowledge of the powers and duties pertaining to that office.
(c) Attorneys and accountants. A member of the Rhode Island bar, and certified public accountants under § 5-3.1-5, shall, regardless of residence, be appointed a notary public upon application and presentment of a certified copy of his or her certificate of admission to the bar or certificate of public accountancy.
(d) Any such person making written application to be appointed a notary public or justice of the peace shall, at the time of application, pay to the secretary of state the sum of eighty dollars ($80.00).
History of Section.
(P.L. 1911, ch. 671, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 30, § 13; P.L. 1925, ch. 642, § 1; P.L. 1931, ch. 1751, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 489, § 10; G.L. 1956, § 42-30-5; P.L. 1987, ch. 192, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 25, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 384, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 220, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 381, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 449, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 532, § 1.)
