How Do I Renew My Arizona Notary Commission?

Arizona notaries are appointed by the Arizona Secretary of State for a four-year notary term. Your Arizona notary commission is not automatically renewed and you must follow the same application process you completed four years ago when you applied to become a notary in Arizona.

The process to renew your Arizona notary commission is easy and affordable, so there is no need to delay. Your Arizona notary commission may be renewed as soon as two months before the current commission expires. The American Association of Notaries will guide you through the Arizona notary renewal process.

To renew your Arizona notary commission, follow the steps listed below:

1. Purchase a four-year, $5,000 Arizona notary bond.

When you first applied to become an Arizona notary, you were required to purchase a four-year, $5,000 Arizona notary bond. You must purchase such a notary bond once again before you start the Arizona notary renewal application process. When completing the application, you will be asked to indicate whether you have purchased an Arizona notary bond. You will then be asked to enter the following:

• The notary bond number
• The name of the notary bonding company
• The notary bond issue date and effective date

The Arizona Secretary of State will use the notary bond issue date as the official issue date of your Arizona notary commission, which will expire exactly four years from that date.

2. Complete and print the Arizona notary application.

Arizona notaries are required to complete the Arizona notary renewal application on the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. The name you enter on the application must match the name on the notary bond. For example, if you chose “Jane D. Doe” on the bond, you cannot enter “J.D. Doe” on the application.

Print and sign the Arizona notary renewal  application and then mail it to the Arizona Secretary of State or to the American Association of Notaries along with the notarized notary bond and a $43 filing fee. The Secretary of State only accepts renewal notary applications completed and printed from its website. Photocopies of the notary application will be rejected. It takes up to four weeks to process the Arizona notary application. You do have the option of paying an additional $25 fee to expedite processing, which will cut the time required down to two to three business days.

3. Order an Arizona notary stamp and record book.

The Secretary of State’s Office will process the Arizona notary renewal application and mail you the Arizona notary commission certificate. Once you receive your certificate, you can order your Arizona notary stamp and record book for the renewal Arizona notary commission.

Arizona notary law requires notary supply vendors to receive a copy of the notary’s commission certificate before manufacturing a notary stamp. Therefore, do not be concerned if you receive such an email.

4. Purchase a notary errors and omissions insurance policy.

Your $5,000 notary bond protects the public, but an Arizona errors and omissions insurance policy protects you, the notary. An E&O insurance policy will protect you under the following circumstances:

• A false claim is filed against you in court
• Someone forges  your notary signature without your knowledge
• You mistakenly complete a certificate incorrectly
• You inadvertently accept a forged identification
• You are sued for some other unintentional mistake

Arizona notary law does not require notaries to purchase an errors and omissions insurance policy. However,  it is a wise practice for all notaries to purchase this type of insurance. E&O insurance is your first line of defense; it will cover any unintentional errors on your part. If someone sues you over unintentional notary misconduct, your E&O insurance policy will pay your legal expenses up to your policy limits. These reasonably priced policies are available with different coverage limits, ranging from $5,000 to $200,000.

5. Destroy your expired notary stamp.

At the end of your expired notary term, you must destroy your old Arizona notary stamp. A notary stamp, if it falls into the wrong hands, can be used to commit fraud. To destroy your stamp:

• Push the rubber pad (located at the base of the stamp) down until the rubber pad is showing.
• With you free hand, peel the rubber pad off the stamp’s base.
• Grab the rubber pad from the corners and remove it from the base.
• Use a pair of scissors to cut up the rubber pad to ensure it is not used with another stamp. Be sure to cut through the imprint both lengthwise and horizontally so your name and commission number are no longer legible.
• Throw away the pieces, preferably in separate trash bins. 

The American Association of Notaries manufactures notary supplies in house, so if you order from us, please fax or email us a copy of your certificate. We will prepare your notary stamp and ship it to you quickly. Our Arizona notary stamps and notary journals comply with Arizona notary laws and come with a lifetime replacement guarantee.

The American Association of Notaries has been helping individuals renew their notary commissions since 1994.  We will guide you step by step through the Arizona notary renewal application process and support you during your new four-year Arizona notary renewal term. 

Click here to start the Arizona notary renewal application process today.