Posted by Salvador Avalos on 2/1/10 9:47pm
Msg #320652

re-new commission

My Commission is set to expire in Late February, I have passed my exam back in November but have had no other notice from the state secretary is this common. This is the first time my commission is up for renewal. At the training they informed me we should expect it within 30 days, but those days have gone by and no word. What is the norm when renewing a commission?

Thanks

Reply by John Schenk on 2/1/10 9:51pm
Msg #320654

I'm sure you'll get response by the CA notaries...

They're very good about responding.

Mine usually comes in within 30 days of renewal in Texas. Good luck to you!

JJ

Reply by GF_CA on 2/1/10 10:13pm
Msg #320656

I received my new commission 1 month before the expiration

date; this was last year in October. I suggest you call them.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/1/10 10:30pm
Msg #320658

Re: I received my new commission 1 month before the expiration

It's taking 10-12 weeks to get a CA commission and that assumes you passed the test and your fingerprints were taken the day of the class or very soon afterward. This time frame is for new notaries/and notaries who commissions will expire.

My commission expires 6/4/2010 and if I took the test this week I would get my commission sent to me on 5/4/2010.

A renewing CA notary should take the test 4 months before expiring to be on the safe side.

My friend took the test on Nov 19th and still hasn't received her commission, yet and she passed the test and fingerprinted on the 19th.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/2/10 6:14am
Msg #320687

Re: I received my new commission 1 month before the expiration

*My commission expires 6/4/2010 and if I took the test this week I would get my commission sent to me on 5/4/2010.*

Is this because of too many notaries trying to get commissions with too few state employees allotted to the job of processing commissions?

You'd think if California was in need of more notaries the state would give enough resources to that project to get them commissioned in a timely manner.

Reply by John_NorCal on 2/1/10 11:15pm
Msg #320663

My commission expired last April, I started the renewal process 6 months beforehand, and received my new commission in March with an effective date of April 2009. I would get on the phone immediately and find out what's happening.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 2/2/10 12:46am
Msg #320672

You should be fine...

When they said "you should expect it within 30 days" I think either they misspoke or you misheard. For renewing notaries, the Secretary of State does not send out your new commission until there are 30 days or fewer remaining of your current commission -- no matter how early you started the process.


They tell you this on the SOS's website:

"If you took the exam at least six weeks prior to the expiration date on your current notary public commission, your new notary public commission will not be sent to you more than 30 days before the expiration date."

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/checklist-commission-packet.htm

Reply by RickG/CA on 2/2/10 11:05am
Msg #320744

Instead of asking fellow notaries, who will only offer up (very good) opinions and own experiences. Why don't you check with those "in charge". The folks at the Notary Public section of the SOS's office are really helpful, if you don't go in with guns blazing.

You can send a message thru the website at http://www.sos.ca.gov/contacts.htm#notary

That said, I passed the test on Oct 10, 2009, my commission expired on 12/22/2009. The new commission was issued 1/2/2010. There was an issue with my application, which delayed processing. Not meant to make you nervous, just sayin' stuff happens.

Reply by Yoli/CA on 2/2/10 11:30am
Msg #320748

As several others have suggested, the best thing to do is call SOS and ask. My commission expired 1/12/10. I took class, test (and passed), and submitted photo and fingerprints 6/27/09. I, too, was getting a little nervous when I hadn't heard anything more. So, 11/29/09 I emailed SOS at [e-mail address] giving background and inquiring when I may expect new commission. On 11/30/09, I received their response:

Thank you for contacting our office with regard to the status of your notary public commission. You have met all the requirements to seek reappointment as a notary public. Our office will mail out your new notary public commission thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of your current commission.
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Sure enough, new commission was in my mail about 2 weeks later.

Ease your mind. Contact them.