What happens if a Notary Public does not renew their commission before it expires?

When a Notary Public does not renew their commission before it expires, they can no longer perform notarial acts and must reapply to become a Notary. This is crucial because notaries are required to maintain a valid commission to act legally; otherwise, any notarizations they attempt to perform would not hold legal validity. The process of reapplying usually involves submitting a new application, paying a fee, and possibly completing training again, depending on the specific regulations in place.

The importance of renewing a commission is emphasized in many states to ensure that notaries keep up with the evolving laws and regulations governing notarial practices. Therefore, once the commission has expired, the notary loses their authority to act in that capacity until the renewal and reapplication process is completed successfully.