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This question is about notary public.
Can you become a notary with a felony?
No, you can not become a notary with a felony. In most cases, due to working with sensitive documents and concerns about integrity, a felony conviction will disqualify an applicant from becoming a Notary. The best chance that you have at becoming a notary with a felony is to try to get it expunged.
However, each state has its policies for becoming a certified notary. Since it is considered a public office position typically appointed by the governor, most states do run a background check. Even if a particular state does not require passing an exam to be a notary, the application for an appointment as a notary typically includes a question about criminal convictions.
A 25-point scale is used to rank criminal offenses found in a background search. This is the same scale used for the required annual screening of all working notaries with an accumulation of 25 points disqualifying anyone.
A felony offense, such as drug sale/distribution, domestic violence, felony assault, theft, terrorist threats, and sexual crimes, will score 25 points.
A misdemeanor can earn 10 to 15 points each, so multiple misdemeanor convictions can easily total 25 points.
Having their felony expunged can give them the chance they need to begin with a clean record and succeed at becoming a Notary. Expunging a criminal record allows anyone to honestly state on an application that they have not been convicted of a crime.
In some states, such as Florida, if you have a felony conviction on your record, you must get your civil rights restored before you can become a notary.
To get your civil right restored you must submit the following:
A written statement explaining the charges and circumstances
A copy of the court judgment, sentencing order, or an equivalent court document
If adjudication was withheld and your civil rights were not forfeited, you are only required to provide a written statement and court documents. However, if you were convicted of a felony, a copy of the Certificate of Restoration of Civil Rights (pardon) is required. If the state in which the felony occurred does not give you this document
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