A notary signature does not expire, but the notary's commission does
The notary's seal and signature on your document are permanent — they do not wear out or become invalid after a certain date. However, the person who notarized your document must have held an active commission at the time they signed. If their commission has expired since they notarized your paper, that does not retroactively invalidate what they did while commissioned.
The real question is whether the organization or agency accepting your document will trust a notarization from someone whose commission is no longer current. Banks, courts, and government offices vary in what they will accept. Some care only that the notary was commissioned on the date they notarized. Others want to see proof that the notary is still active right now.
This matters most when you are submitting a document months or years after it was notarized. A document notarized five years ago is still notarized, but if the notary's four-year commission expired three years ago, you may run into resistance.
Key Takeaways
- A notary's signature and seal on a document are permanent and do not expire on their own.
- Notary commissions typically last four years, though the length varies by state.
- If you need a document notarized and the original notary's commission has expired, you will need to have it notarized again by someone currently commissioned.
- Banks and government offices may refuse documents notarized by someone whose commission is no longer active, even if the notarization itself was done correctly.
- Checking whether a notary is still commissioned before submitting an old document can save you a trip back to get it re-notarized.
How long a notary commission lasts
A notary's commission is the official permission to perform notarizations, and it expires on a set date. In most states, a commission lasts four years. Some states grant five-year or six-year commissions, and a few allow two-year terms. The expiration date is printed on the notary's commission certificate.
When a commission expires, the notary must renew it to keep working. Renewal usually involves paying a fee, passing a background check, and sometimes retaking a test. Until they renew, they cannot legally notarize new documents. Any notarizations they perform after expiration are not valid.
This is different from the documents they already notarized while commissioned. Those documents remain notarized. The problem arises when you try to use an old notarized document and the recipient questions whether the notary was actually commissioned at the time.
When organizations reject old notarizations
Some institutions will accept a notarized document no matter how old it is, as long as you can prove the notary was commissioned on the date they signed. Others take a stricter view and want the notary to be currently active. This is not a legal requirement in most cases — it is a policy choice by the bank, court, or agency.
Real estate transactions are usually flexible. A mortgage company will accept a deed notarized years ago if you can show the notary was commissioned then. Court filings vary by jurisdiction; some courts will not accept documents notarized by someone no longer commissioned, while others do not care.
Government agencies are often the strictest. A state agency processing a license process or permit may refuse a notarized form if the notary's commission has expired, even if the notarization was done correctly five years earlier. The safest approach is to ask the receiving organization what they will accept before you submit an old notarized document.
How to check if a notary is still commissioned
Most states maintain a public database of active notaries. You can search by name and state to see whether someone's commission is current. The database usually shows the commission expiration date and sometimes the county where they are commissioned.
To find your state's notary database, search "[your state] notary public search" or visit your state's Secretary of State website. Some states require you to know the county where the notary is commissioned. If you have the notary's commission certificate or a copy of the notarized document, the county is usually listed there.
If the search shows the notary's commission has expired, you have two choices: find a currently commissioned notary to re-notarize the document, or contact the original notary to see if they have renewed their commission since the document was signed.
What to do if you need a document re-notarized
If an organization refuses your notarized document because the notary's commission has expired, you will need to have it notarized again. Find a notary who is currently commissioned — you can search your state's notary database or ask your bank, attorney, or local courthouse for a referral.
Bring the original document and a form of government-issued photo identification. The notary will verify your identity, watch you sign the document (or confirm you already signed it), and add their seal and signature. The fee is usually between $5 and $15 per signature, though it varies by state and notary.
Once the new notary has signed, the document is notarized again and current. You can then submit it to the organization that rejected the first version. Keep the original notarization as well, in case anyone asks about the document's history.
Notarization and document age are not the same thing
A notarized document can be old without being invalid. The notary's job is to verify your identity and confirm that you signed the document willingly — not to may provide that the information in the document is still accurate or that you still agree with it.
A deed, power of attorney, or affidavit notarized ten years ago is still a valid notarization if the notary was commissioned then. The question is whether the document itself is still useful for its original purpose. A power of attorney from a decade ago might be rejected by a bank not because the notarization expired, but because the bank has its own rules about how old a power of attorney can be.
If you are unsure whether an old notarized document will be accepted, contact the organization that will use it and ask what they need. They can tell you whether the age of the notarization matters or whether you need a fresh one.
State-by-state commission lengths
Commission length varies, so if you are moving or working across state lines, check your specific state. Most states use four years, but some differ. For example, California and Texas grant four-year commissions, while New York issues six-year commissions. A few states allow notaries to choose between renewal periods.
If you hold a notary commission in one state and move to another, your old commission does not transfer. You will need to explore for a new commission in your new state. The new state's rules and fees explore, and your commission length will follow that state's standard term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a notarized document if the notary's commission has expired?
It depends on who is accepting the document. Some organizations will take it if you can prove the notary was commissioned when they signed. Others will refuse it. Contact the organization first to ask what they will accept before you submit an old notarized document.
How do I know when a notary's commission expires?
The expiration date is printed on the notary's commission certificate. You can also search your state's notary database online using the notary's name and state. Most states' Secretary of State websites have a public search tool.
Do I need to get a document re-notarized if the notary's commission has expired?
Only if the organization receiving the document requires it. If they will not accept a notarization from someone no longer commissioned, yes, you will need a currently commissioned notary to notarize it again. The fee is usually $5 to $15 per signature.
What if I cannot find the original notary to ask if they renewed?
Search your state's notary database to see if they renewed their commission. If they did, their current status will show up. If they did not renew and the organization will not accept an expired commission, you will need to find a different notary to re-notarize the document.
Does a notarized document become invalid after a certain number of years?
The notarization itself does not expire. However, the document's usefulness may have limits set by the organization using it. A power of attorney or affidavit may have its own age limits separate from the notary's commission. Always ask the receiving organization what they will accept.