State of Florida · Register of Commissioned Notaries Public · 2026 Edition
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What Happens If Your Florida Notary Commission Expires?

The commission ends at midnight on the expiration date. There is nothing after it.

Published 2026-08-07 · Updated 2026-08-07 · For Notaries

On this page
  1. There is no grace period
  2. What to do if you have already lapsed
  3. Preventing it, permanently
  4. Frequently asked questions

There is no grace period

A Florida notary commission runs four years under Fla. Stat. §117.01 and ends on the expiration date printed on your certificate and stamped on your seal. There is no grace period, no probationary window, and no retroactive renewal.

The day after expiration you are not a notary. Any notarial act performed after that date is void — not defective, not curable by a corrective certificate, void. And performing one is the practice of a public office you do not hold.

If you are also registered as an online notary, note the second trap: RON registration is tied to the underlying commission. When the commission lapses, the online registration lapses with it, even if you paid for a longer RON platform subscription.

What to do if you have already lapsed

  1. Stop notarizing immediately. Not after the current appointment. Now.
  2. Apply as a new applicant. A lapsed commission is not renewed; it is replaced. You file a fresh application through a bonding agency, post a new $7,500 bond, and pay the fees again.
  3. Order a new seal. Your commission number changes. The old seal is now evidence of an expired commission and should be destroyed, not kept.
  4. Re-register for RON if you perform online notarizations, including the $25,000 RON bond and $25,000 E&O under §117.225.
  5. Deal with anything you notarized after the date. Tell the parties. A void notarization on a recorded instrument is a title problem, and it is far cheaper to fix in week one than in year three.

Preventing it, permanently

Commissions expire on a rolling four-year cycle, which means the date is almost never memorable and almost always inconvenient. Two habits solve it:

  • Start renewal at 90 days out. Processing takes weeks, and your bonding agency needs lead time. Ninety days is comfortable; thirty is not.
  • Set three calendar alerts — 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration — the day your new commission arrives. Do it once, and you never think about it again.

Your commission expiration date is printed on your certificate, appears on your seal, and is published in the Florida Department of State's records. If you are not certain of yours, look it up before you notarize anything else — you can search the register here, free.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a grace period for an expired Florida notary commission?

No. A Florida notary commission ends on its expiration date. There is no grace period, and any notarial act performed after that date is void.

Can I renew a Florida notary commission after it expires?

Not as a renewal. Once the commission lapses you must apply as a new applicant — a new application through a bonding agency, a new $7,500 bond, new fees, and a new seal with your new commission number.

What happens to documents I notarized after my commission expired?

They are void, because you had no authority to perform the act. Notify the affected parties promptly. On a recorded instrument this can create a title defect that is far cheaper to cure immediately than later.

Does my RON registration survive my commission expiring?

No. Florida online notary registration is tied to the underlying notary commission. When the commission lapses the RON registration lapses with it, and you must re-register with a new $25,000 RON bond and E&O coverage.

When should I start renewing my Florida notary commission?

About 90 days before expiration. Processing and bonding take weeks, and starting at 30 days routinely leaves notaries with a gap in which they cannot lawfully work.

Disclaimer. Nothing on this page is legal advice. State Notary Agent is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and a Florida notary public may not give legal advice, select documents, or explain their legal effect. Statutes change. Verify anything you rely on against the primary sources linked here, and consult a Florida attorney for advice about your situation.

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