Notary Commission

A notary commission is the state's official grant of authority to act as a notary public — issued after an applicant meets their state's requirements (which vary — see the full breakdown linked below) and typically valid for a fixed term before renewal is required. Most states use a 4-year term, but this varies more than people expect: Delaware's initial term is just 2 years, Louisiana grants a lifetime commission (maintained by re-filing a bond periodically rather than reapplying), and several states run 5, 6, 7, or 10-year terms.

A commission is tied to the specific state that issued it — a notary commissioned in one state generally cannot notarize documents in another, which is why interstate moves require a fresh commission in the new state, not a transfer of the old one.

Verifying a Commission Is Real and Current

Most states offer a free public lookup tool through the Secretary of State (or equivalent office) to confirm a specific notary's commission status — genuinely useful if you want to verify a notary before an appointment, particularly for a high-stakes document. Availability varies by state; some states don't offer a public lookup at all.