2.3 Commission Term and Renewal
Key Takeaways
An Arizona notary commission lasts four years and authorizes acknowledgments, jurats, oaths/affirmations, and copy certifications
The commission is issued in your county of residence, but acknowledgments and oaths may be performed in any Arizona county
You may begin renewing up to two months before expiration, and must re-pass the exam (effective July 2025) with a new $5,000 bond
Report an address change within 30 days (§ 41-323; a late notice may draw a $25 civil penalty). Report a surname change within 30 days (§ 41-327); the old-name stamp may be used through commission expiration with the required two-line signature.
Under A.R.S. § 41-317, resignation is in writing to the Secretary of State, and you must deliver your stamp, journal, and records within 3 months or forfeit $50–$500
Commission Term, Renewal, and the End of a Commission
Your commission is the legal authorization that lets you notarize. Knowing exactly what it permits, how long it lasts, how to renew it, and what you must do when it ends is heavily tested — and these rules carry real penalties when ignored.
The Four-Year Term and What It Authorizes
An Arizona notary commission is valid for four years from the effective date printed on your commission certificate. During that term, the commission authorizes you to perform the six act types listed in A.R.S. § 41-251(6):
| Authorized Act | What You Do |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Confirm a signer appeared and acknowledged a signature |
| Jurat (verification on oath/affirmation) | Administer an oath and witness a signature |
| Oath or affirmation | Administer a verbal oath, with or without a document |
| Copy certification | Certify or attest a copy, subject to document limits |
| Signature witnessing or attestation | Witness or attest an individual’s signature |
| Protest of negotiable instrument | Note a protest of a negotiable instrument |
Jurisdiction: County of Residence vs. "Statewide"
Here is a nuance the exam loves. Your Arizona commission authorizes notarial acts within Arizona; the county on your commission and seal identifies your county of residence, not a county-only service area. A residence change can affect the commission and must be reported under current rules. You may never perform an Arizona notarial act while physically outside the state.
Commission Lifecycle
| Stage | Key Rule | Penalty / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance | 4-year term begins on the certificate's effective date | Verify name, county, and dates before ordering your seal |
| Active term | Notarize statewide for acknowledgments/oaths; keep bond and journal current | Maintain records for 5 years after each act |
| Address change | Notify the Secretary of State within 30 days | Late notice may draw a $25 civil penalty (§ 41-323) |
| Surname change | Notify within 30 days | Old-name stamp may continue through term with two-line certificate signature (§ 41-327) |
| Renewal | May begin up to two months before expiration; re-pass exam + new bond | No grace period after expiration |
| Expiration (no renewal) | Authority ends at expiration; stop notarizing | Surrender records within 3 months |
| Resignation | Submit written resignation to the Secretary of State | Surrender stamp/journal/records within 3 months |
Changing Your Address or Name
For an address change, notify the Secretary of State within 30 days under § 41-323(A); a late address notice may draw a $25 civil penalty under § 41-323(C). For a surname change, notify the Secretary of State within 30 days under § 41-327 and provide the supporting name-change documentation requested by the office. You may continue using the stamp and commission in the prior surname until the commission expires. On the certificate signature line, sign the changed surname; immediately below it, sign the name under which you were commissioned. Section 41-327 treats a missed surname notice as evidence of failure to discharge notarial duties but does not assign the § 41-323 address-change $25 penalty to surname changes.
Renewal
A commission does not renew automatically; you reapply. As of July 1, 2025, renewing notaries must pass the competency exam just like first-time applicants — the exam is no longer only for newcomers. You may begin the renewal process up to two months before your current commission expires, and your passing score is valid for 90 days.
Renewal Steps
- Pass the competency exam (80%) within the 90-day validity window.
- Obtain a NEW $5,000 surety bond — your old bond expires with your old commission.
- Complete the renewal application through the online portal.
- Sign the bond/Oath of Office before a current notary and mail it with the $43 fee to the Secretary of State.
- Receive the new commission (~4 weeks), then order a new seal showing the new expiration date.
Worked Example: Priya's commission expires on September 30, 2026. Because renewing notaries must now test, she schedules and passes the Arizona Notary exam on August 5, 2026 (within two months of expiration and inside her 90-day score window). She buys a brand-new $5,000 bond, files the renewal application with the $43 fee on August 20, and receives her new commission by late September — with no gap in authority. Crucially, Priya does not keep notarizing on her old commission past September 30 if the new one is delayed: Arizona provides no grace period, so any notarization performed after expiration would be unauthorized and void.
When a Commission Ends: Resignation and Expiration
When your commission ends — whether you let it expire, you resign, or it is revoked — specific recordkeeping duties kick in under A.R.S. § 41-317.
To resign, you submit your resignation in writing to the Secretary of State. Resignation is not permanent; you may apply again later.
Upon resignation, revocation, or expiration (when you choose not to renew), you must deliver to the Secretary of State — by certified mail or another method providing a receipt — your:
- Physical stamping device (seal)
- Notarial journal
- All notarial records (except records of acts that are not public record)
| Duty | Deadline | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Submit written resignation (if resigning) | Promptly to the Secretary of State | — |
| Deliver stamp, journal, and records | Within 3 months | Forfeit $50–$500 to the state |
The Secretary of State then preserves the deposited records for an additional five years. While you are active, you must keep your records for at least five years after each notarial act; surrendering them at the end transfers that custodial duty to the state.
On the Exam
Lock in these numbers: 4-year term; renewal may begin two months early; passing score valid 90 days; address change within 30 days (possible $25 penalty) and surname change within 30 days (old stamp allowed with two-line signature); resignation in writing to the Secretary of State; stamp/journal/records surrendered within 3 months or forfeit $50–$500 (A.R.S. § 41-317). And remember the jurisdiction nuance: commissioned in your county of residence, but acknowledgments and oaths may be performed in any Arizona county.
How long is an Arizona notary commission valid, and when may a notary begin the renewal process?
Two years; renewal may begin 30 days before expiration
Four years; renewal may begin up to two months before expiration
Five years; renewal may begin 90 days before expiration
Four years; renewal may only begin after the commission has already expired
Under A.R.S. § 41-317, what must a notary do when resigning, and what is the consequence of neglecting the records-surrender duty?
Notify the county recorder; no penalty applies
Submit a written resignation to the Secretary of State and deliver the stamp, journal, and records within 3 months, or forfeit $50–$500
Destroy all records immediately; a $1,000 fine applies if late
Transfer the commission to another notary within 30 days
A notary moves to a new home within Arizona during her commission term. What must she do, and what is the penalty for failing to act in time?
Nothing — address changes are not reportable
Notify the Secretary of State within 30 days; a late notice may draw a $25 civil penalty
Resign immediately and reapply with a new bond
Notify the exam vendor within 10 days, or pay a $100 fine
Which statement about Arizona notary jurisdiction is correct?
A notary may notarize anywhere in the United States
A notary may only notarize within the single county that issued the commission
The commission is issued in the notary's county of residence, but acknowledgments and oaths may be performed in any Arizona county
A notary may notarize in Arizona and any neighboring state
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.