In Illinois, a notary public is commissioned for a term of 4 years. After this period, the notary must apply for a renewal if they wish to continue performing notarial acts.
The official seal or stamp of an Illinois notary public must include the notary’s name, commission number, and expiration date. It does not need to include the notary’s office address.
Illinois law requires notaries to record all notarial acts in their journal, including those that involve an acknowledgment. The notary must document the details of the notarization to ensure proper record-keeping and accountability.
If an Illinois notary changes their address during their commission term, they are required to notify the Secretary of State of the address change within 30 days. This ensures that the notary’s contact information remains current and accurate for official purposes.
An Illinois notary public must complete and submit their bond to the Secretary of State before taking the oath of office. The bond is a form of insurance that protects the public from any potential errors or misconduct by the notary.
