Is a Notary Public responsible for renewing their commission on a timely basis and satisfying renewal requirements by law?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if required by state law
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

Notary authority comes from a state-issued commission that lasts for a set term. To keep the ability to perform notarizations, the commission must be renewed on time and the renewal requirements must be met. This is why the statement is true: a Notary Public is responsible for renewing their commission timely and fulfilling all renewal requirements by law. If renewal isn’t completed before the commission expires, the notary no longer has legal authority to notarize, and any notarizations done after expiration are not valid. Renewal usually involves submitting the renewal application, paying fees, and satisfying any other state-mandated requirements (such as oaths or bonds) to stay in good standing.