Georgia attorney-state guidance

Note for Title Companies & Out-of-State Closing Agents

Georgia is an attorney-state for real estate closings. Here's what that means for your closing — and how PeNotary fits in.

PeNotary does not conduct real estate closings. This page explains Georgia's attorney-state rules and where a mobile notary can support counsel — not replace the closing attorney.

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Georgia's attorney-state requirement

The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that real estate closings constitute the practice of law — see In re UPL Advisory Opinion 2003-2. A licensed Georgia attorney must be physically present at the closing; phone supervision is not sufficient under Formal Advisory Opinion 00-3.

Witness-only closings are prohibited. Mail-away closings routed to non-attorney notaries are not permitted. These rules apply even when the lender, title company, or borrower is based outside Georgia.

Out-of-state title partners should plan on a Georgia attorney leading closing document work, funds handling, and recording — with any mobile notary work occurring under that attorney's direction.

What PeNotary CANNOT do for you

  • Cannot accept Snapdocs assignments for Georgia real estate closings
  • Cannot conduct refinance, purchase, HELOC, or reverse mortgage closings
  • Cannot act as a witness-only notary for closing documents
  • Cannot accept assignments from out-of-state lenders for unsupervised Georgia closings

What PeNotary CAN do

  • Serve as the mobile notary at an attorney-supervised closing if the responsible Georgia attorney is physically present
  • Notarize general non-closing documents for any law firm in North Fulton
  • Provide bedside, hospital, and eldercare facility notarizations
  • Handle apostille courier service for international document needs

For general legal-document mobile notary support, see our Mobile Notary for Georgia Attorneys service page.

If you have a Georgia closing

  1. Engage a Georgia-licensed real estate attorney (Georgia State Bar referral directory)
  2. The attorney coordinates the closing
  3. If they need a mobile notary on-site, PeNotary can support that appointment when contacted by the attorney

Non-closing notary needs

Talk to PeNotary about mobile notary work that does not involve conducting a real estate closing.

Talk to PeNotary about non-closing notary needs →