--- title: "Notary Commission Renewal and Ongoing Requirements | MCC" description: "What notaries must keep up after getting commissioned: renewal timing, address and name changes, journal duties, bond and insurance renewal, and moving…" url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/guides/notary-commission-renewal-and-ongoing-requirements" --- Guide · Updated October 12, 2026 # Notary Commission Renewal and Ongoing Requirements A notary commission is not a lifetime license. It runs for a set term, and several tasks come up before and during that term. Missing them can leave you unable to notarize. By [Matthew Coleman](/about), MCC Solutions **Quick answer.** A notary commission runs for a set term with an end date printed on your certificate. Put the date on a calendar with reminders several months ahead, since renewal paperwork takes time and you cannot notarize after expiration. Need this notarized? Sign online from home with no travel fee, or ask for a notary to come to you. The price is shown and confirmed before any work starts, and you can book in about two minutes. [See your price and book](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:9084446373) **Related:** [What to expect at a HELOC signing](/notary/guides/heloc-signing-what-to-expect) · [NJ notary fees](/notary/fees) · [How long a notary keeps the journal](/notary/guides/how-long-to-keep-a-notary-journal) **Free tools:** [Apostille or embassy legalization?](/notary/apostille-finder) · [Child travel consent letter](/notary/child-travel-consent-letter) ✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials) ## Know your expiration date Your commission has an end date printed on your certificate and, in many states, on your stamp. Put the date on a calendar with reminders several months ahead. Renewal paperwork can take time, and you cannot notarize after expiration. Building a notary business? [The loan signing agent course](/courses/loan-signing-agent). If you let it lapse, you may have to apply as a new notary, depending on your state. Do not wait for a reminder from the state. Some offices send notices, others do not, and mail can be late. ## Renewal steps Renewal often resembles a new application, with fresh background questions, fees and a new oath. Some states require continuing education or a refresher exam. Others do not. Check the commissioning office's current renewal page. Order your new stamp only when the office tells you it is time. The new stamp usually shows a new expiration date. If you also work as a loan signing agent or with a signing company, update your credentials with them after you renew. ## Name and address changes If you move, marry, divorce or otherwise change your name, you may have to notify the commissioning office within a certain period and replace your stamp. Do not keep using the old stamp. Use the exact name on file when you sign. A business address change might matter if the state lists it publicly. When your stamp changes, keep a sample impression with the date of the change in your files. It helps if a document stamped with an older version is later questioned. ## Keep records and supplies in order Your journal continues to matter as long as you hold the commission and for the required period afterward. Keep entries complete, and store old journals safely. Replace worn stamps. Update your bond or insurance if it lapses or the term changes. If a surety bond is required, it often must be filed again at renewal. Back up electronic records at least once a quarter, and test that you can open the files. A backup you cannot read is not a backup. ## Stay current on law changes Notary law changes. States have updated rules for remote notarization, certificates, fees and journals in recent years, including New Jersey's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, effective in 2021. Follow your state's notary newsletters or the commissioning office's announcements. A short refresher each year helps you avoid outdated habits. Online notary-law summaries from the National Notary Association and state offices can be useful. Treat them as a guide and rely on your state's official text. If your state changes its fee limits or required wording, update your price sheet and certificate forms the same week. ## Leaving the role If you move out of state, resign or stop notarizing, ask the commissioning office what they require. You may need to return your stamp, file a notice or deliver your journal to a repository. Do not just throw things away. ## Common questions **Can I notarize while my renewal is pending?** Not unless the office confirms your new commission is active. Using an expired commission is a serious problem. **Do I need to tell the state if I change employers?** Usually not, unless your address or name on file changes. Check your handbook. ## More notary guides - [How to Become a Notary Public: General Steps in Any State](/notary/guides/how-to-become-a-notary-public-general-steps) - [Year-End Journal and Records Review for NJ Notaries](/notary/guides/year-end-notary-journal-and-records-review-new-jersey) - [The Notary Journal at a Loan Signing: What Gets Recorded](/notary/guides/notary-journal-at-a-loan-signing) This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; check with the office involved or an attorney for your situation. Let us handle it [### Mobile Notary A mobile notary near you in New Jersey, at your home, office, hospital or job site. Affidavits, powers of attorney, vehicle titles and business documents. Book online. Mobile notary →](/notary/mobile-notary)[All guides](/notary/guides) Reach notaries, signing agents and people getting documents notarized or apostilled who read this guide: [advertise here](/advertise#notary). Do it yourself ### New Jersey Notary Starter Kit The paperwork a new notary has to build from scratch, ready to print or edit: a journal laid out for what New Jersey's manual says to record, checklists, forms and client emails. [See what's inside ($29)](/toolkits/nj-notary-starter-kit) [Free sample](/toolkits/nj-notary-starter-kit#free-starter)14-day full refund Course: [Start a Mobile Notary Business in New Jersey](/courses/nj-mobile-notary-business) ($79) covers the NJ rules, honest travel pricing, clients and safety for mobile appointments. It is training with a certificate of completion, not a credential. ## Rather have us handle it? Call the desk. [Book Now](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)