So, you are renewing your commission? First of all, Notary Public Underwriters would like to thank you for the vital service you provided to your state. As you know, not just anyone can be a notary public. As required by Senate Bill 1334, first time Fl...
So, you are renewing your commission?
First of all, Notary Public Underwriters would like to thank you for the vital service you provided to your state. As you know, not just anyone can be a notary public.
As required by Senate Bill 1334, first time Florida notaries are required to complete an education course before they can be commissioned. Now that you’re renewing, you may be asking yourself:
Why should I bother with another notary education course?
Our memory has a funny way of forgetting things
It is an indisputable fact that our minds sometimes fail us and they forget things. As you continually obtain new information in your day-to-day life, your brain has to decide what information is essential and what information can be pushed into the background.
You know the phrase “use it or lose it?” It can be applied to your memory too!
Let’s say that during your first commission you predominantly conducted affirmations and acknowledgements. For whatever reason, your life has taken you in a different direction (maybe a new job, new business, new you), and during your second commission you will be making more attested copies. It has been a number of years since you first received your educational training to be a notary public and since you rarely, if ever, made attested copies, you may be rusty on the legalities of the matter (after all, you weren’t using the information and your brain had to make room for that delicious chicken parmesan recipe!). The best way to combat this loss of memory is to re-familiarize yourself with the information you learned the first time around.
Renewing your education is one of the best ways to ensure you are performing your critical duties as a notary public properly. Remember, you are the first line of defense against fraud and we want to keep that front line strong!
The only thing that stays the same is that things will always change
As a notary public, with a commission lasting 4 years, it can be hard to keep up with the changes to notary laws in your state. It is important to note, however, that it is your responsibility to stay up to date with any changes that occur while you are commissioned. This may seem relatively easy if you are an active notary. But this isn’t always the case:
What if you rarely perform notarial duties?
What if you had a commission for four years, but only actively utilized your commission for the first two?
What if you waited a few years before getting re-commissioned?
In all these cases, keeping up with the notary laws in Florida may not have seemed like “top priorities.” But now that you are renewing your commission, they definitely are.
REMEMBER: You are responsible for everything you notarize.
Ultimately, a simple online educational course could save you a lot of time and money in the long run even if you are a renewing Florida notary.
