Posted by Jennifer Jackson on 11/15/12 4:38am
Msg #443467
First time renewing commission
Does your commission number change everytime your renew?
| Reply by Luckydog on 11/15/12 5:45am
Msg #443469
yes, in Florida it does
| Reply by PSULION/PA on 11/15/12 6:21am
Msg #443470
It doesn't in PA ... better get specific info for CA n/m
| Reply by Stoli on 11/15/12 7:04am
Msg #443474
CA - Yes n/m
| Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 11/15/12 10:45am
Msg #443491
Yes, it does and it is a pain in the butt to have to get a new commission these days in CA.
I took my required notary class last Saturday for my renewal. I wound up in a 6 hour class (CA renewal only requires a 3-hours refresher course) due to the time and location of the class working well for my schedule. I thought I was going to die of boredom sitting through all that elementary stuff.
BTW- if you are a CA notary needing to renew your commission consider having done six months b´fore the expiration date just to be safe. Last year it was taking the SOS office up to 6 months to complete their work to pull all the pieces together and issue the new commission. You might squeak by at 4 months, but if your livelihood depends on doing signings, better safe than sorry. My commission does not expire until 7/31/13.
| Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 11/15/12 10:56am
Msg #443493
CA Notary: My renewal went smoothe as silk;
no problems.
Start the process six (6) months in advance.
I was in the 6-hour class as well, but was not bored and never thought I'd die of boredom.
I absorbed everything, although I basically knew what was being taught.
I took it as a positive reinforcement of what I knew and a refresher.
Pro Mobile Notary: I'm thinking you scored a 100% on the exam, easily, no?
***Good luck and start 6 months in advance,
I forgot about the time - then - boom! - I received my results.
I signed up for the renewal package right here on Notary Rotary. The Instructor/Presenter was excellent and a practicing Notary Public/Signing Agent, to boot.
Stephanie
| Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 11/15/12 12:26pm
Msg #443507
Re: CA Notary: My renewal went smoothe as silk;
Too soon to have my test results back Stephanie.
They allowed 50 minutes for the exam and I was done with the exam and gone in 12 minutes.
I got 1 wrong on the practice test and I felt like I aced the exam, but all I need is to pass.
As a side note, the instructor of the class was the same one I have 4 years ago. She asked me why we stopped calling her for signing assignments. I reminded her that the last 6 times we called her to cover an assignment she was too busy teaching notary classes to cover the signings we were asking for coverage on.
| Reply by Edward Cooke on 11/15/12 12:03pm
Msg #443504
That's not so bad. The notary EXAM in Louisiana is 6 hours long.
| Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 11/15/12 4:54pm
Msg #443530
6 hours for the Exam - sounds like the Cosmetology Exam
at State Board I took years ago.
That is kinda crazy - 6 hours.....
Wow.
;-)
| Reply by Edward Cooke on 11/15/12 6:04pm
Msg #443547
Re: 6 hours for the Exam - sounds like the Cosmetology Exam
This is the format for the Dec. 2012 exam:
Scenario Component
The Scenario Component requires the examinee, acting in the role of notary, to complete notarial transactions requested by a constituent. Transactions called for in the scenario will pertain to one of three categories of notarial practice: (1) the conveyance and mortgage of immovable property; (2) wills and testamentary trusts; and (3) succession by affidavit. For the December 2012 examination, the category will be wills and testamentary trusts. The examinee should be prepared to prepare and execute in proper form (C.C. Arts. 1576 et seq.) a notarial testament that comprises some or all of the following components: bequests and legacies, partition of property, immovable property description, disinherison of a forced heir, usufruct, testamentary trust, modification of an inter vivos trust, designation of a tutor for surviving minor children, designation of executor, administrator, or independent administrator, and other express wishes of a testator. Questions on the conveyance and mortgage of immovable property and on succession by affidavit may appear on both the Multiple Choice and the Research Component. The examinee must develop the notarial instruments and any related documents necessary to satisfy the request of the constituent. The instruments and documents must be prepared in accordance with examination instructions and must (1) comply with applicable statutory requirements and directives, and (2) give *legal effect to the requests of the constituent as presented in the scenario. (It is assumed that the notary will appropriately deliver, file, or record the completed documents.)
For the Scenario Component the examinee may use only the current (2012) edition of the Louisiana notary-public examination official study guide published by the Secretary of State (Fundamentals of Louisiana Notarial Law and Practice), although it is not required. The pages existing in the study guide may be marked up, highlighted, or annotated in any way, but it may NOT include inserted pages, tabs, or attachments of any kind. An attachment will consist of any material affixed (glued, taped, stapled, et.al.) or overlaid into or on any pages of your book. No other resources may be used on this portion of the examination.
Research Component
The Research Component presents the examinee with brief texts or passages pertaining to aspects of notarial practice in Louisiana. The examinee will respond to a number of multiple-choice items drawn from the text. Of particular concern in this component are the notarial instruments listed on pages -555 to 557 of the study guide, though test items are not necessarily limited to these instruments. The items will require the examinee to demonstrate critical understanding of aspects of Louisiana notarial practice and to locate information in West’s Louisiana Civil Code (LCC), a publication in two volumes (Thomson/West) edited by A. N. Yiannopoulos. For this component, the examinee will be required to use either of the two most recent editions (2011, 2012) of the LCC and the 2012 edition of the official study guide. Examinees must furnish their own copies of either resource The pages in the LCC and the study guide may be marked up, highlighted, or annotated in any way, but inserted pages, tabs, or attachments of any kind are NOT allowed. As indicated above, an attachment will consist of any material affixed (glued, taped, stapled, et.al.) or overlaid into or on any pages of your book. No other resources may be used on this portion of the examination.
Multiple-Choice Component
The Multiple-Choice Component consists of items pertaining to information from the 2011 or 2012 edition of the West’s Louisiana Civil Code (LCC) and the 2012 Louisiana notary public examination official study guide. These items test the examinee’s (1) knowledge of the material contained in, or referenced by, the study guide and the LCC and (2) ability to comprehend and apply the information. No reference materials may be used on this part of the test. Using reference materials here constitutes cheating and is grounds for dismissal from the test.
| Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/15/12 6:19pm
Msg #443548
Re: 6 hours for the Exam - sounds like the Cosmetology Exam
Yeah... but Lousiana's notaries are a whole different breed of notaries. It's not entirely a fair comparison. They have a lot of additional civil law duties that every other notary in the country does not have.
| Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/15/12 2:16pm
Msg #443516
For Premier members...
One more benefit of Premier membership on this site (at least for CA notaries) is free access to their very good authorized online training. You do have to read the materials and pass the various exams for each section, so it's no walk-over, but you can do it at your own pace and time. Also, the processing of the completion certificate is handled with the usual speedy response.
I agree with Howard that it's probably still a good idea to get the renewal process started much earlier than you think you need to, even though the numbers of renewing notaries seems to be down. Like he said, "if your livelihood depends on" this business, why take the risk? I can procrastinate with the best of you, but last time I renewed, I managed to get all this stuff done well in advance (also about 6 months), and it was a breeze - almost zero stress. It was a much better experience than the previous three times I went through the process!! 
| Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 11/15/12 10:48am
Msg #443492
I have renewed 3 times and it has changed each time. n/m
| Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/15/12 11:12am
Msg #443500
Yes it does...and here's why....
Even though it's a "renewal" of your commission, it's not really much of a renewal except for the fact that you get to take the 3-hour class now vs the 6-hour class. Everything else in the process remains essentially the same. You still have to go through the same application process as if you are a new notary.
Each CA notary commission is for a single 4- year term. That's it. Once the 4 years are up, the term is done. If you wish to continue to be a notary you have to apply all over again and they will issue you another 4 year term that coincides with your current one provided you still meet all of the qualifications and pass the background check again.
I received my latest commission package just under 2 weeks ago. I made sure that everything was done well in advance so there wasn't a lapse. I actually kind of like my new commission number... pretty easy to remember... 1996665.
It is a bit of a pain, and pretty darn expensive process for us to go through... but it is what it is. It pays for itself eventually.
| Reply by LKT/CA on 11/15/12 6:32pm
Msg #443551
Do NOT use new commission before it's time.
Continue using your current commission up to its expiration. Why? Because the bond and/or E & O insurance on the current commission is for THAT commission and expires with that commission. The bond and/or E & O insurance for the new commission is effective when it becomes effective and does NOT protect the public or you until then.
Example: Current commission #1234567 expires November 30, 2012. Therefore, bond and/or E & O insurance show commission #1234567 and expire November 30, 2012.
New commission #9876543 starts December 1, 2012. New bond and/or E & O insurance show commission #9876543 and coverage begins on December 1, 2012. If you start using new commission #9876543 before December 1, 2012, you and the public are NOT bonded and insured. Again, use the current commission right up to its expiration. Don't use the new commission until the date it begins.
| Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/15/12 6:53pm
Msg #443554
Re: Do NOT use new commission before it's time.
Do people really do that? Maybe it's just me, but I thought it was kind of obvious... because a new commission is issued with effective dates, right? For example, my newest one, right on the commission certificate says, "Term commencing November 28, 2012 and ending November 27, 2016..."
The oath of office form also has similar language, with beginning and ending dates.
Seems like common sense to me that I can't use anything relating to the new commission until November 28th.
I'm speaking in general here using my own dates as an example... not thinking that you're talking to me specifically, Lisa. I just wondered if people really did that. Although... yeah, I suppose they probably do. LOL
| Reply by LKT/CA on 11/16/12 6:40pm
Msg #443698
Re: Do NOT use new commission before it's time.
Yep, people do that, Marian...LOL!! While the commission certificate says "Term commencing on.....and ending...", the seal itself only has the expiration date. Notaries get excited about their new commission and start using it before its time. And don't get me started on people's "common sense" <heeheehaha!!>
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