IN NOTARY Study Guide 2026

Indiana Code 33-42-13-2 requires a notary public to notify the Secretary of State of any change to their mailing address or email address within thirty (30) days of the change. This ensures the Secretary of State can maintain accurate records and communicate with the notary.

The surety bond is a financial protection for injured parties but does not cap the notary's personal liability — the notary can be personally sued for damages exceeding the bond.

A valid court subpoena compels the notary to produce their journal records. Failure to comply can result in contempt of court.

Indiana Code 33-42-13-4(b) requires that upon expiration, resignation, or revocation of a commission, the notary public must destroy or deface the stamping device so it cannot be misused. This prevents fraudulent notarizations from being performed with an invalid commission.

An Indiana notary public should not notarize documents for close family members due to the potential for a conflict of interest. The notary's role requires absolute impartiality, and notarizing for family can create the appearance of bias, even if the notary believes they can be objective. To maintain the integrity of the notarization and avoid ethical breaches, it is best practice to decline such requests.

An apostille is the streamlined Hague Convention certificate accepted between member countries, while full legalization is a multi-step chain of certifications required for non-member countries.