A notary's forfeiture is tied to knowingly failing to renew; which statement best completes the sentence?

• A. Accidentally
• B. Knowingly
• C. Negligently
• D. Unknowingly

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that penalties for not renewing hinge on the notary’s state of mind about renewal. Forfeiture of the commission is tied to the notary knowingly failing to renew, meaning the action is intentional—someone consciously decides not to renew. It isn’t about a simple mistake or an honest lapse, but about a deliberate choice not to comply with the renewal requirement. Understanding this helps you see why the correct completion is that the notary’s forfeiture occurs when there is knowledge and intent to not renew. To avoid this, keep track of expiration dates and renew on time. The other options describe lack of intention or carelessness, which don’t match the notion of forfeiture grounded in knowingly delaying or avoiding renewal.