(a) An individual qualified under subsection (b) may apply to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for a commission as a notary public. The applicant shall comply with and provide the information required by regulations established by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and pay any application fee.
(b) An applicant for a commission as a notary public must:(1) be at least 21 years of age;(2) be a graduate of an accredited high school or have passed the high school equivalency test;(3) be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States;(4) be a resident of or have a place of employment or practice in the Virgin Islands;(5) be able to read and write English; and(6) not be disqualified to receive a commission under section 832.
(1) be at least 21 years of age;
(2) be a graduate of an accredited high school or have passed the high school equivalency test;
(3) be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States;
(4) be a resident of or have a place of employment or practice in the Virgin Islands;
(5) be able to read and write English; and
(6) not be disqualified to receive a commission under section 832.
(c) (1) Before issuance of a commission as a notary public, an applicant for the commission shall execute an oath of office and submit it to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.(2) Before a notary public performs any notarial act, the notary public shall obtain and read a copy of all current statutes and any regulations and directives issued by the office of the Lieutenant Governor.
(1) Before issuance of a commission as a notary public, an applicant for the commission shall execute an oath of office and submit it to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
(2) Before a notary public performs any notarial act, the notary public shall obtain and read a copy of all current statutes and any regulations and directives issued by the office of the Lieutenant Governor.
(d) Each notary public shall pay to the Treasury of the Virgin Islands an initial fee of $100 for the commission and thereafter, on January 1 of each year, an annual fee of $25. Upon failure to pay the annual fee, the Lieutenant Governor shall, after giving the notary public 30 calendar days’ notice of the intention to do so, cancel such appointment.
(e) Each notary public shall execute a bond in favor of the Government of the Virgin Islands, in the sum of $5,000, from any insurance/bonding company authorized to do business in the Virgin Islands, or submit two resident sureties who are owners, within the Virgin Islands, of real property with the value of $10,000 over and above encumbrances thereon which must be approved by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; provided that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall notify the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the applicant of the approval of the bond.
(f) Each notary public, upon the approval of notary public’s bond and after having taken the official oath, shall transmit such bond and oath, signed by the notary public, to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, whereupon the Lieutenant Governor may issue a commission.
(g) Each notary public and the sureties on the notary public’s bond are liable for all the damages sustained by a party injured by the official misconduct or neglect of that notary public.
(h) (1) A notary public may, at the expiration notary public’s term of office, apply for a renewal of the commission by the filing of an application accompanied with a new bond and a renewal fee of $75, and such application, if all other qualifications are in order and the requirements in paragraph (2) are satisfied, must be given priority over other applications if it is postmarked no later than 60 days after the term ends.(2) In addition to satisfying the requirements contained in paragraph (1), notaries public seeking renewal of their commission shall also deposit their notary public journal and stamping device with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in the judicial division of the notary public’s residence.
(1) A notary public may, at the expiration notary public’s term of office, apply for a renewal of the commission by the filing of an application accompanied with a new bond and a renewal fee of $75, and such application, if all other qualifications are in order and the requirements in paragraph (2) are satisfied, must be given priority over other applications if it is postmarked no later than 60 days after the term ends.
(2) In addition to satisfying the requirements contained in paragraph (1), notaries public seeking renewal of their commission shall also deposit their notary public journal and stamping device with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in the judicial division of the notary public’s residence.
(i) A notary public who fails to timely apply for a renewal must be notified and a determination made regarding the notary public’s desire to apply for renewal of the commission.
(j) On compliance with this section, and subject to 3 V.I.C. § 771, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall issue a commission as a notary public to an applicant for a term of 4 years.
(k) A commission to act as a notary public authorizes the notary public to perform notarial acts. The commission does not provide the notary public any immunity or benefit conferred by law of the Virgin Islands on public officials or employees.