Protecting Your Notary Commission At All Costs. Here's Why It Matters
Being a notary public is an honor. It's not just a side hustle, a rubber stamp, or a gig you do between errands. It's a public trust - one that's been upheld for centuries, even before email, DoorDash, and TikTok turned the world into a 30-second attention span circus.
Your notary commission is a privilege granted by the state. And once you accept it, you’re expected to uphold the law, safeguard the public, and conduct yourself like the professional you are.
Protecting that commission should be priority number one - not after your favorite coffee run, not when it’s convenient, not "after this one favor for a friend."
So, what does protecting your commission at all costs really mean?
1. Know the Law Better Than You Know the Starbucks Menu
Ignorance isn’t an excuse. Saying, "Oh, I didn’t know I couldn’t notarize my boyfriend’s refinance," won’t save you when the Secretary of State comes knocking with a suspension letter in one hand and a fine in the other.
✔ Know your handbook.
✔ Take regular refresher courses.
✔ Stay updated on law changes (because ignorance today is penalties tomorrow).
If you treat your commission like a professional license - because it is - you’ll already be ahead of the game.
2. Never, Ever Compromise Your Integrity
A client offers you double your fee to "just backdate" a document?
A cousin begs you to "notarize it even though she left her ID in the car two states away"?
A loan officer winks and says, "Just overlook that one missing signature, it’s no big deal"?
It’s a big deal.
One bad decision - one moment of trying to be "helpful" - can cost you your commission, your reputation, and a fat stack of legal bills. Protect your name like your grandmother is watching. (Because honestly, she probably is, and she’s not impressed.)
3. Keep Impeccable Records
Your journal isn’t just a notebook. It’s your shield. It’s what saves your hide when someone challenges a notarization months or even years later.
✔ Record every notarization, even if the client is "just a neighbor."
✔ Never skip signatures or thumbprints when they’re required.
✔ Treat that journal like the crown jewels.
If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen. And if it didn’t happen, good luck explaining that to a judge.
4. Say No Without Guilt
The strongest notaries have the strongest boundaries.
No ID? No notarization.
No willingness to sign in front of you? No notarization.
No proper form or wording? No notarization.
You are not a "mean person" for following the law. You're a professional for doing so. Anyone who pressures you to cut corners isn't someone you want in your book of business anyway. Respect yourself enough to walk away.
5. Invest in Tools That Protect You
You wouldn't go into battle with a broken sword, would you? (Okay, maybe you would, but only if you’re starring in some epic HBO series.)
As a notary, your tools are everything:
Fraud detection pens
Up-to-date ID checking guides
Secure e-journals
Strong insurance and bonds
Reliable training and continuing education
Spend the extra time and money on them. It’s not an expense - it’s a lifesaver.
If you’re going to stand in the notary profession, stand tall.
Protect your commission like it’s your family’s good name - because in a way, it is.
The best notaries aren’t the ones who cut corners, rush through signings, or bend the rules.
The best notaries are the ones who do it right every single time, even when nobody's watching.
Because protecting your commission at all costs means protecting your future - and there’s nothing more worth fighting for than that.
