How to Notarize a Power of Attorney for a Child in Georgia

Why Notarization Is Required

Both of Georgia's non-court consent instruments for kinship caregivers require notarization. The Kinship Caregiver Affidavit (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-18) requires the caregiver to sign under oath before a notary. The Power of Attorney for Care of a Minor Child (O.C.G.A. § 19-9-129) requires both the parent and the caregiver to sign under oath before a notary.

Without the notary stamp, the documents are not legally valid. Schools and medical providers will reject them, and the Probate Court will not register the POA.

Where to Get Documents Notarized

Banks and credit unions. Most Georgia banks offer free notary services to account holders. Call ahead to confirm a notary is available — not every branch has one on staff every day. Georgia authorizes a $2 fee for each notarial act; ask the provider about any additional service charge before going.

County courthouses. Many Georgia county courthouses have a notary available through the Clerk of Court or Probate Court office. This is especially useful if you are filing a POA with the Probate Court — you can notarize and file in the same trip.

UPS Store and FedEx Office. Commercial shipping stores may offer notary services. Call ahead to check availability and the total cost; Georgia authorizes a $2 fee for each notarial act.

Public libraries. Some Georgia public libraries offer free notary services. Availability varies by branch — call your local library first.

Mobile notary services. If the parent is in a residential treatment program, hospital, or correctional facility and cannot travel to a notary, a mobile notary can go to them. Georgia authorizes a $2 fee for each notarial act; ask the provider whether separate travel or appointment charges apply. Some Georgia legal aid organizations can help coordinate notarization for incarcerated or hospitalized parents.

Attorneys and legal aid offices. Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society staff often include notaries who can notarize kinship care documents during a legal consultation, typically at no additional cost.

What to Bring

The notary must verify each signer's identity based on personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence. Many notaries ask for current government-issued photo ID; call ahead to confirm what the notary will accept.

For a Kinship Caregiver Affidavit: the caregiver brings their ID and the completed (but unsigned) affidavit. The caregiver signs in the notary's presence.

For a Power of Attorney: both the parent and the caregiver bring their IDs and the completed (but unsigned) POA. Both sign in the notary's presence. If the parent and caregiver cannot be at the same notary at the same time, the document can be signed at two separate notarizations — the parent signs before one notary, and the caregiver signs before another — though this requires each page to be properly acknowledged. Confirm this approach with the notary before splitting appointments.

The 10-Day Probate Court Filing (POA Only)

After the POA is notarized, a copy must be filed with the Probate Court in the county where the child lives within ten days. The Probate Court charges no filing fee for this registration. Bring the notarized original (or a copy — the statute says "a copy") and the court clerk will register it on the dedicated minor POA docket.

The Kinship Caregiver Affidavit does not go to the Probate Court. It goes directly to the school.

Common Notarization Mistakes

Signing before arriving at the notary. If you sign the document at home and bring it to the notary already signed, most notaries will refuse to notarize it. The entire point of notarization is that the notary witnesses the signature. Bring the document unsigned.

Forgetting the parent's notarization (POA). The POA requires both signatures to be notarized. If only the caregiver's signature is notarized, the document is incomplete and the Probate Court will reject the filing.

Using a general financial POA form. School registrars regularly reject general financial power of attorney forms (the kind used for bank accounts and property) because they do not cite the Supporting and Strengthening Families Act. Use the statutory form under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-134 — it is designed specifically for caregiving authority over a minor child.

The Georgia School & Medical Consent guide includes the complete execution sequence — document preparation, notarization appointment, Probate Court filing, and noncustodial parent notification — with a timeline showing how to complete everything in a single day when the child needs to be in school immediately.

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