How to Verify a Notary Public Commission

Commission vs. license: the key distinction

A notary public holds a commission, not a license. Commissions are granted by the state (typically the governor or secretary of state) and authorize the notary to perform notarial acts within that state for a defined term.

Key differences from a professional license:

• A notary commission is state-specific — a California notary cannot perform notarial acts in Texas without also being commissioned in Texas
• Commission terms are fixed (typically 4 years, though it varies by state) and do not automatically renew
• Commissions can be suspended or revoked by the state for misconduct
• Some states require a surety bond as a condition of the commission; bond coverage is separate from the commission itself

State notary commission lookup portals

Most states maintain a public online notary registry. The issuing authority and portal location varies:

In some states (e.g., Georgia, Michigan), notary commissions are maintained at the county level, not the state level. If the state secretary of state portal does not return a result, check the county clerk's office in the county where the notary is commissioned.

What the commission record shows

A notary commission lookup typically displays:

• Commission number: Unique identifier for the notary's commission
• Commissioned name: The legal name under which the notary was commissioned (may differ from a preferred name)
• Commission county: The county to which the commission is tied (in states where commissions are county-specific)
• Commission term: Start and expiration dates
• Status: Active, Expired, Resigned, or Revoked
• Bond information: Some state records include the bonding company name and bond expiration

Remote Online Notarization (RON) credentials

Remote Online Notarization (RON) allows notaries to perform notarial acts via audio-video technology for remotely located signers. As of 2025, over 40 states have enacted RON laws, but requirements vary significantly.

To perform RON, a notary typically must:

• Hold an active traditional notary commission in their state
• Complete additional RON training required by that state
• Register as a RON-authorized notary with the state (some states require separate registration)
• Use an approved RON technology platform (approved platforms are listed by each state)

When verifying a notary for RON work, confirm their state commission is active and that they hold the RON authorization required by their state. Check the state secretary of state's RON registry if one exists.

National Notary Association: membership vs. commission

The National Notary Association (NNA) is the largest professional organization for notaries in the U.S. NNA membership indicates professional engagement and access to NNA resources, but it does not confirm that a notary holds an active state commission.

NNA offers a Background Screened notary credential that indicates the notary completed NNA's screening process. This is a supplementary check but does not substitute for verifying the state commission directly.

Verification checklist