AZ Notary Eligibility Requirements and Application 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An Arizona notary applicant moves to a different county within Arizona during the application review period. What effect does this have on the pending application?
- The application is automatically cancelled and must be resubmitted
- The applicant must notify the Secretary of State, but the application can continue
- The applicant loses eligibility until they have resided in the new county for 30 days
- No action is required because county of residence does not affect an Arizona notary commission (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No action is required because county of residence does not affect an Arizona notary commission
Arizona notary commissions are statewide and not county-specific, so moving within Arizona does not affect a pending or active commission.
Question 2: Which of the following would most likely result in the denial of an Arizona notary application?
- Having a minor traffic violation
- Being 19 years old
- Having an unrestored felony conviction (Correct answer)
- Working part-time rather than full-time in Arizona
Correct answer: Having an unrestored felony conviction
An applicant with a felony conviction whose civil rights have not been restored does not meet Arizona's eligibility requirements and would be denied.
Question 3: What is the length of an Arizona notary public's commission term?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 4 years
An Arizona notary commission is valid for four years from the date of issuance.
Question 4: When must an Arizona notary applicant take the oath of office?
- Before submitting the application to the Secretary of State
- After receiving the commission certificate from the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Within 30 days after the Secretary of State approves the application
- Only if the applicant plans to perform electronic notarizations
Correct answer: After receiving the commission certificate from the Secretary of State
The oath of office is administered after the Secretary of State approves the application and issues the commission certificate.
Question 5: An Arizona notary applicant changes their legal name after submitting the application but before receiving their commission. What should they do?
- Wait until the commission is issued and then request a name-change amendment
- Notify the Secretary of State promptly so the commission reflects the correct legal name (Correct answer)
- Submit a brand-new application under the new name and withdraw the original
- Proceed with the original name and use a DBA for official notarial acts
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State promptly so the commission reflects the correct legal name
Applicants should notify the Secretary of State of any name change during the application process so that the commission certificate is issued with the correct legal name.
Question 6: A person who holds an active notary commission in another U.S. state moves to Arizona and wants to be commissioned as an Arizona notary. What must they do?
- Simply register their out-of-state commission with the Arizona Secretary of State
- Apply for reciprocity, which exempts them from the surety bond requirement
- Complete a full Arizona notary application, including bond, as a new applicant (Correct answer)
- Transfer their existing commission, which carries over automatically after 90 days
Correct answer: Complete a full Arizona notary application, including bond, as a new applicant
Arizona does not have a reciprocity program; anyone seeking an Arizona commission must complete the full application process regardless of commissions held elsewhere.
Question 7: Which of the following is a required element of a completed Arizona notary application?
- A certified copy of the applicant's birth certificate
- Two letters of character reference from licensed attorneys
- Proof of a surety bond in the required amount (Correct answer)
- A notarized letter from the applicant's current employer
Correct answer: Proof of a surety bond in the required amount
A surety bond in the required amount ($5,000) must accompany the completed Arizona notary application.
AZ Notary Eligibility Requirements and Application 5
An Arizona notary applicant moves to a different county within Arizona during the application review period.
What effect does this have on the pending application?