Washington Notary Commission Term — How Long It Lasts and What Controls It

The Four-Year Maximum

Washington notary public commissions are issued for a term of up to four years under WAC 308-30-050. That "up to" is doing real work in the sentence — your actual commission length depends on a detail most applicants do not think about until it causes problems.

Your commission term is locked to the expiration date of your $10,000 surety bond. Buy a four-year bond, and your commission runs the full four years. Buy a two-year bond (because the premium was cheaper or your bonding company offered a shorter term), and your commission expires in two years — even though the state allows four.

This bond-commission coupling is absolute. If your surety company cancels the bond early, your commission automatically suspends. The bond company must notify the DOL 30 days before cancellation, but the practical result is the same: no bond, no commission.

How the Bond Controls Your Timeline

The relationship between your bond and commission creates a planning decision at the application stage. Here is how the math works:

• Four-year bond: Commission runs the full statutory maximum. Premium typically $30–$60 for the entire term.
• Two-year bond: Commission limited to two years. You will need to renew both the bond and the commission at the two-year mark.
• One-year bond: Technically possible, but uncommon. You would renew annually, paying a $42 renewal fee each time plus the bond premium.

For most notaries, the four-year bond is the obvious choice. The premium difference between a two-year and four-year bond is minimal, and you avoid the hassle of a mid-term renewal. The $42 renewal fee alone makes the four-year option cheaper in total cost of ownership.

What Happens When Your Commission Expires

When your commission reaches its expiration date, your authority to perform notarial acts ends immediately. You cannot notarize anything — not even something that was scheduled in advance. Using an expired commission is a violation that can result in disciplinary action and personal liability.

A lapsed commission cannot be renewed through the standard renewal process. If you let your commission expire without renewing, you must reapply as a new applicant. That means a new application, a new bond, a new oath of office, a new commission number, and a new stamp. Your old commission number is permanently retired.

The Renewal Window

Washington allows renewal applications up to 120 days before your commission expiration date. The renewal fee is $42 (compared to $40 for an initial application), and you must secure a new surety bond before submitting the renewal.

The renewal process through the SecureAccess Washington (SAW) portal mirrors the initial application: upload your new bond, submit the notarized oath, and pay the fee. Processing takes 10–14 business days for online submissions.

Start the renewal process at least 60 days before expiration to ensure continuity. If your renewal is processed before your current commission expires, you transition seamlessly to the new term. If there is a gap, you cannot notarize during it — even by a single day.

Tracking Your Expiration

Your commission expiration date appears on your commission certificate, your physical stamp, and your SAW portal account. The DOL does not send renewal reminders, so tracking the date is your responsibility.

Set a calendar reminder for 90 days before expiration. That gives you time to secure a new bond, have your oath notarized, submit the renewal, and receive confirmation before your current commission ends.

The Washington Notary Commission guide includes a commission maintenance timeline that maps out the renewal sequence and the specific dates you need to hit to avoid any lapse in your notary authority.

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