1.4 Commission Term, Name/Address Changes & Renewal

1.4 Term, Changes, and Renewal

An Arkansas traditional notary commission lasts ten years. That long term does not make the record static. The notary must keep the Secretary of State informed of name and address changes, and a move between counties changes the filing and seal information.

Renewal

The handbook directs a notary seeking renewal, or one with an expired commission, to file a renewal amendment through the online notary account. Users whose commission is expired or within 60 days of expiration are directed to the renewal workflow. Renewal requires:

• a new bond;
• the renewal amendment and application fee; and
• another passing notary examination.

Renewal is not an automatic extension of the old authority. A notary must not perform acts after the existing expiration date unless the new commission has become effective. A.C.A. § 21-14-108 requires the expiration date to be stated as part of the notary's official information and prohibits acting after expiration. An omitted expiration date does not necessarily invalidate an otherwise valid act, but that rule is not permission to omit it or continue after expiration.

Thirty-day change rule

If the name or address on file changes, the notary must file an amendment within 30 days. The procedure depends on what changed.

Name change

The 2025 handbook states that a name change cannot currently be filed through the online portal. Print the Change of Information form and mail it with a certified copy of the legal name-change document, such as a marriage license, divorce decree, or court order. A plain photocopy is not sufficient. After the Secretary of State issues documentation reflecting the new name, purchase a new seal.

Do not begin signing under the new official name while using a seal bearing the old name. The official signature on a certificate must match the signature on file, and the seal must show that official name.

Address change within the same county

When the residential address changes but remains in the same county of commission, file the amendment through the online portal. The county shown on the seal does not change, so the handbook does not direct a new county seal merely for an intracoounty address change.

Move to another Arkansas county

A move from one Arkansas county to another is not handled as a simple online address edit. The commission must be transferred to the new county of residence through the circuit clerk. Follow the detailed transfer instructions in the current user guide and purchase a new seal showing the new county. The prior seal should no longer be used after the official information changes.

Out-of-state commissioned notaries

An out-of-state resident whose commission is based on Arkansas employment must report changes and transfer to the new Arkansas county of employment when necessary. The commission remains valid only while the person maintains the qualifying Arkansas connection. For an adjoining-state resident that is Arkansas employment or operation of a business; for a qualifying nonresident military spouse, it is Arkansas employment or operation of a business under the applicable pathway.

If that connection ends, the notary should not assume the ten-year printed expiration date preserves authority. Eligibility must continue. Contact the Secretary of State about resignation or a new qualifying basis.

Practical timeline

Review the commission record well before expiration. Verify the official name, address, email, county, bond, and seal data. Use the live portal because operational instructions can change. Complete the new bond and examination, then follow every oath and filing step for the renewed commission. Destroy an obsolete seal after a name or county change so it cannot be applied with outdated official information.

Source anchor: Arkansas Secretary of State, Arkansas Notary Public Handbook (rev. 1-2025), “Renewing Your Notary” and “Changes in Personal Information”; A.C.A. §§ 21-14-101 and 21-14-108.

Renewal-window decisions

The live Secretary of State FAQ makes the timing rule more precise than the general renewal description. A renewal application cannot be submitted earlier than 60 days before the current commission expires. The system also alerts an applicant who tries to use the renewal path more than 60 days after expiration; after that point, the person must complete a new application rather than a renewal. That distinction affects the form used, but it never creates a grace period for performing notarial acts. Authority ends on the printed expiration date unless the renewed commission is already effective. A prudent notary therefore begins gathering the new bond and reviewing the exam before the 60-day window opens, files promptly once eligible, and confirms activation before resuming work after any lapse.