Mary lives just miles from the Illinois border. What must she do to become a non-resident notary in Illinois?

To become a non-resident notary in Illinois, a person must meet specific eligibility requirements set by the state, which include having a valid reason related to their profession or business that necessitates their ability to notarize documents in Illinois. The correct approach for Mary is to meet these eligibility requirements with the exception of the residency requirement.

This means that while she cannot be a resident of Illinois, she can still apply to be a notary as long as she fulfills all other necessary conditions, such as being at least 18 years old, understanding the responsibilities of a notary, and not having a felony conviction (unless the conviction has been pardoned). The focus here is on allowing non-residents to serve the notarial needs of their clients in Illinois, recognizing the interconnected nature of business and personal dealings across state borders.

In contrast, simply moving to Illinois, applying without a business address, or providing a notarized letter from her state do not correspond to the official requirements or pathways established by Illinois law for non-resident notaries. These actions would not satisfy the established legal criteria to qualify as a non-resident notary.