If a notary changes their name, what must they do?

When a notary changes their name, they are required to file a new oath of office within 30 days of the name change. This is important because the notary's name on their commission must match the name under which they are currently notarizing documents. Filing a new oath ensures that the state recognizes the name change and updates the notary's official records accordingly.

The necessity of filing a new oath helps maintain the integrity and authenticity of notarial acts, ensuring that they are legally binding under the right name. This process also allows for any discrepancies between the previously filed and current legal names to be corrected, thus avoiding potential complications in notarial transactions.

Other actions, such as getting reassigned a new commission number or updating the commission expiration date, are not required solely due to a name change. While notifying an employer might be a good practice, it is not mandated by law. Therefore, the correct action after a name change is to file a new oath to comply with state regulations.