Notary Public Underwriters Blog
I Just Received My First Notary Commission… Now What?
- Details
- Published: August 26, 2024
So, you’ve just become a notary for the first time. You probably obtained your notary stamp/seal, record book of notarial acts (journal) and other notary supplies as part of your commissioning process.
Now what?
- Your first step is to safely and securely store your original proof of notary commission (your commission “certificate,” card, etc.—whatever your state issues). No one else should ever have access to this document, whether it was provided on paper or electronically. Your original proof of commission can be lost, misplaced or worst of all, misused by another person unless you consistently store it in a secure place.
- Next, identify authoritative resources for ongoing training, technical support, and information about notary law and rule changes in your state. Notary Public Underwriters is a great place to start. Our website offers a range of helpful notary practice tips and information. Another excellent source is the website of your state notary commissioning official. If you haven’t yet taken any notary training, don’t perform even one notarial act until you’ve taken a class, reviewed all aids to notarization that your state commissioning official provides, or obtained a notary-practice handbook such as the American Notary Study Course or one of our handbooks (available in certain states).
- Refer to, and follow, a step-by-step procedure for notarizing signatures, administering verbal oaths or affirmations, or performing less-common notarial acts (if authorized in your state) such as certifying copies of certain documents. Most of the resources noted above offer these lists; try searching for “steps of notarization” and similar terms. Using notarization aids as you gain experience is a smart and safer way to grow your notary knowledge and your confidence.
- Be prepared—and willing—to decline finishing a notarization if you just don’t feel confident. It’s a greater service to a customer to tell them you’re not sure how to complete the notarization properly, than it is to guess and risk botching it. Make a point afterward to research notarial procedures to identify where and why you stumbled.
- If you decline to perform a notarization, make a note of that somewhere in your records. If possible, include the name of the customer, the type of document presented (“agreement,” “application,” etc.) and why you declined. Just as recording all notarial acts you perform in your record book (journal) of notarial acts can help prove which documents you did notarize, keeping consistent notes about the notarizations you didn’t perform can also protect you from someone else’s faulty memory or false claims about your services.
Implementing these “next steps” after obtaining your notary commission will help you establish a sound foundation for your notarial practice throughout your commission term.
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