Notary Public

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Become a Notary Public in New York State

Notary public commissions are administered by the New York State Department of State. A New York notary public commission is valid for four years.

Requirements for a New Notary Commission

To become a New York State notary public, applicants generally must:

  • Submit a completed application and required fee to the New York State Department of State.
  • Pass the New York State notary public examination.
  • Be a resident of New York State or have an office or place of business in New York State.

New York State attorneys and qualifying court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the written examination requirement.

Application and Exam Fees

  • Initial notary application: $60
  • Written examination: $15

New applicants can apply through the New York Business Express notary licensing system. Applicants must complete the required Notary Public Oath of Office before submitting their application.

Exam schedules, application requirements and current notary information are available from the New York State Department of State notary public website.

New York State Department of State Contact Information

Division of Licensing Services:
Phone: (518) 474-4429

Notary Public Renewal

Notary commissions may be renewed beginning 90 days before the expiration date. New York State encourages notaries to renew online through the New York Business Express licensing system.

  1. Visit New York Business Express.
  2. Sign in or create a NY.gov account.
  3. Find your notary record.
  4. Open My Dashboard to begin the renewal.
  5. Complete the required Oath of Office and submit the renewal application and fee.

Notary renewal fee: $60

Notaries are responsible for tracking their commission expiration date and renewing on time.

For current renewal instructions and forms, visit the New York State Department of State notary renewal page.

Updating a Notary Commission

Name or Address Changes

Notaries who need to update their personal name, business address or residence address should follow the New York State Department of State's current license-update process.

Name or address change fee: $10. No fee is required when a name change results from a change in marital status.

Current forms and instructions are available on the New York State Department of State renewal and update page.

Filing a Commission in Another County

If you need to file your notary commission in another county, contact the Genesee County Clerk's Office for information about obtaining a Certificate of Official Character.

  • Certificate of Official Character issued by Genesee County: $5
  • Filing a Certificate of Official Character: $10

Notary Public Questions

For questions about applications, examinations, renewals or changes to a New York State notary commission, contact the New York State Department of State Division of Licensing Services at (518) 474-4429.

Additional information is available from the New York State Notary Public website.

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