What happens if you miss the deadline to renew your notary commission?

Missing the deadline to renew your notary commission results in the cessation of your ability to perform notarial acts. In Illinois, a notary public must maintain an active commission to officially carry out notarial responsibilities. When the commission expires, the notary is no longer authorized to notarize documents, which means they must stop performing any notarial acts until they have gone through the renewal process and received a new commission.

This scenario underscores the importance of staying vigilant about renewal timelines and ensuring that all paperwork is submitted on time. It helps to avoid gaps in one’s ability to serve clients and the community, which can lead to legal and practical inconveniences for both the notary and those seeking notarial services.