A1. We understand the confusion for new Notaries. Not to worry, we have dealt with this for over ten (10) years! Please purchase the book “I’m a New York State Notary, now what do I do?” today and get an instant downloaded book to answer your Notary Public questions. This book has been specifically written for New York State Notaries by Gerrie Pierre-Fleurimond. Gerrie has over ten (10) years experience training New York Notaries to pass the Notary examination and perform their duties accurately! She was selected as the 2003 National Notary of the Year by her students and peers. This was of course a huge honor as there are over 3 million Notaries in the US. This book will answer many of your questions about performing your duties correctly as well being, and remaining a lawful New York State Notary Public.

A2. The usual and customary notarial functions include:

• Administering oaths and affirmations
• Notarize documents which have to be sworn to or affirmed before a Notary
• Take affidavits and depositions, if qualified to do
• Swear in witnesses before a testimony
• Certify the signers acknowledgment on documents such as deeds, mortgages and powers of attorney
• Verify the opening of unpaid safe deposit boxes at banks• Notarize a Proof of Execution by a subscribing witness for a person who cannot appear to the Notary in person

A3. Yes, every person appointed as a New York Notary Public must, at the time of his or her appointment, be a citizen or permanent resident alien (Green Card holder) of the United States and either a resident of New York or have an office or place of business in New York State.

A4. To begin the application process, an applicant must take and PASS the Notary Public examination for New York State. Once passed, with a score of 70% or better, the applicant must submit a "PASS” slip showing that he or she has taken and passed the Notary Public Examination to the state with the notarized New York Notary application.

Examinations are regularly scheduled throughout the State of New York. Please check our web site for the page “Become a Notary” where we list the New York Notary Examination schedule.

Notaries are "commissioned" (i.e. licensed) by the New York Secretary of State. An applicant for a Notary Public commission must submit the application to the Division of Licensing Services in Albany, NY an original application with a $60.00 (sixty dollar) application fee along with the PASS slip.

The application includes an oath of office, which must be sworn to or affirmed and notarized by a NY State Notary.

A5. To prepare for the Notary examination, you have come to the right web site. We have an E-book which has been used by over 70,000 Notaries since 1999 available for your download today! Once you have paid for the book, you will have instant access to download the book to your computer. You review the book and take the quizzes and practice examinations for New York State. Once you feel that you are ready, based on your examination scores, you will then take the actual state examination at one of the (testing facilities) located throughout New York State.

A6. Generally speaking, a person convicted of a felony cannot be appointed as a Notary Public. Also, certain misdemeanors are considered disqualifying for the Notary commission. However, should a person convicted of any crime obtain an Executive Pardon or a Certificate of Good Conduct from the parole board, he or she may be considered for appointment. Check this with the Chief Legal Counsel for New York State in Albany, NY.

A7. The Notary examinations are given throughout the state of New York by the State. To check the examination locations and schedules, please go to page (xxxx) on this web site.

A8. Out students can tell you that we hate to answer this question! We do not provide you a chance to fail. We have designed the”Prepare and Pass the New York Notary Exam” book to help you pass the examination on your first time. The only time we have students failing the examination the first time is when English is not the native language of the applicant. We list some very simple procedures in our book to follow when taking the examination so that you will not fail.

If you fail the examination the first time you take it, you can retake the examination at anytime after you receive the FAIL notification from the state of New York. If you have failed the examination, PLEASE email us. We work with our students to help them become Notaries and not to fail the examination.

A9. A newly appointed Notary Public will receive an identification card within six to eight weeks of the date that the Division of Licensing Services receives his or her application. The identification card will indicate the Notary's name, address, and County and commission term. The term of commission for a New York State Notary is four (4) years. The name of the Notary on the card will be last name then first name. All Notary supplies should be ordered with the name listed as first name, middle name and then last name. Not as it is indicated on the identification card.

A reappointed New York Notary will receive a replacement identification card from the Department of State within six to eight weeks of the date the County Clerk receives his or her renewal application. The term of Notary commission is four (4) years.

A10. The Notary examination must be taken and passed one time in order to become a Notary Public. Every four (4) years when the Notary renews his/her commission they do not have to take the examination again, they simply submit the required fee with a notarized application to the County Clerk‘s office where they live or work, this will be listed on the Notary commission card.

A11. Once the applicant has submitted the application to the state of New York Division of Licensing in Albany, NY it will take about six to eight weeks for the Notary commission to be processed. Notary applicants can check the status of the Notary commission by going to the page (go to website page ‘check commission’). There you will be linked to the Department of State web site where New York State Notary information is listed for all who are commissioned.

A12. No, the state of New York does not provide Notaries with Notary supplies. These have to be ordered by the Notary once he/she knows that they are a Notary Public. The supplies cannot be ordered before the commission as information from the commission is needed in order to make the supplies. Please see the page (Notary Supplies) for more information on what is needed for New York State Notaries.

A13. A Notary Public may charge a fee of $2.00 for administering an oath or affirmation or for taking an acknowledgment. Unless otherwise authorized by law, a Notarial fee may not exceed this amount.

A14. Yes, a Notary does not have to charge a fee when notarizing in New York State. Many Notaries have become qualified in order to serve as a Notary at work. Their employers or companies need documents notarized and so they became the Notary. They often do not charge a fee for notarizing documents while at work as their company paid for the Notary commission. Be fair if you do not charge some do not charge anyone at your office as this may be seen as discrimination.

A15. Yes, once the Attorney has passed the NY State Bar Association examination, he/she can become a New York State Notary and simply pay the application fee every four (4) years. The attorney is exempt from the New York Notary examination.

A16. An individual who is currently a member of the New York State Bar Association is not exempt from the application fee but may be appointed a Notary Public without taking a Notary examination.

A17. An individual who is currently an employee of the Court Clerk of the Unified Court System, and had been appointed to that position after taking a Civil Service promotional examination in the court clerk series of titles, may be appointed a Notary Public without an additional Notary examination. However, they are not exempt from the commission fee of $60.00 every four (4) years.

A18. The term of the New York Notary commission is four (4) years.

A19. Notaries will receive a renewal form from the County in which they are commissioned after three (3) years and nine (9) months. He/she will need to have the commission form notarized and submitted to the County Clerk where they live or where work in order to start the reapplication process. This will take about three (3) months to be completed by the state and a new commission card will come from Albany, NY once the renewal has taken effect.

A20. Notaries Public are commissioned in his/her County of residence or employment. After receiving and approving an applicant for a Notary Public commission, the Secretary of State forwards the commission information, the original oath of office and the signature of the Notary Public to the appropriate County Clerk. The County Clerk maintains a record of the commission and signature. The public may then access this record and verify the "official" signature of the Notary at the County Clerk Offices. There are sixty-four (64) counties in New York State.

A21. The renewal application is mailed to the Notary approximately three (3) months prior to the expiration of his or her term of office. The application must be completed and submitted with a $60.00 fee to the County Clerk’s Office where the Notary is commissioned. This will be either county of residence or county of employment. Instructions for proper submission are included with the renewal application. The term of commission for renewals is four (4) years.

A22. If you have changed your name or address, you must submit a change of personal name or address form along with a $10.00 fee. (The $10.00 fee is not required if the individual’s name change is the result in change of marital status). You may also change your name upon renewal of your license/registration. You must provide proof of your name change, e.g. a copy of one of the following: court order changing your name, marriage certificate, driver's license, a non-driver's ID card, valid passport, or immigration documents. A change in the business name requires reapplication.

A23. If you are changing or have changed your name, you should use your new name when signing your renewal application. Send a copy of the document which changed your name (Marriage certificate, divorce paperwork, etc.)

A24. Generally, section 142-a of the Executive Law for New York State provides that a document notarized by a person who was not commissioned as a Notary Public will not be deemed invalid because of that fact. If you find yourself in a situation where you think this may be of importance, you should contact your Attorney.

A25. Unfortunately, once the commission has expired and has not been renewed within one hundred and eighty (180) days, the applicant must take the Notary examination and apply as a first time Notary.

A26. If a military veteran has been awarded an honorable discharge from the military, he/she can renew the commission within one (1) year of the discharge without taking the Notary examination again. (Please provide copies of letters of dismissal when renewing.).

A27. If your question has not been answered, we will be more than happy to review it and let you know if we have an answer. Please submit your question about the New York Notary examination and being a Notary. We will respond with an answer or directions which can be followed. Please go to the page (Contact Us) to send us your question.

A28. We understand the confusion for new Notaries in New York State. Not to worry, we have dealt with this question successfully for over ten (10) years! Please purchase the book "I’m a New York State Notary, now what do I do?” You can purchase this from our website today and get an instant download of the book to answer your Notary questions.

This book has been specifically written for New York Notaries by a practicing Notary Public with over ten (10) years of experience in New York and twenty (20) years elsewhere. It will answer many of your questions about being and remaining a New York State Notary Public. The book also addresses Notary supplies and what to do in certain cases for Notarial requests not specifically addressed by New York State