Washington Notary Name Change — How to Update Your Commission

You Cannot Just Start Using Your New Name

If you legally change your name — through marriage, divorce, court order, or any other means — you must update your notary commission through the Department of Licensing. But here is the rule that catches people: under WAC 308-30-250(3), you must continue signing with your former name and using your existing stamp until you physically receive the updated commission certificate from the DOL.

This is not a suggestion. Until the new certificate is in your hands, your commission is legally tied to your former name. Signing notarial acts with your new legal name before the DOL issues the updated certificate creates documents with a name that does not match any active commission — which means those notarizations may be challenged as invalid.

The Name Change Process

The DOL requires notification of any changes to your application or licensing information within 15 calendar days of the event under WAC 308-30-280. For a legal name change, the process involves:

1. Submit a name change application — available online through the SAW portal or by mail
2. Pay the $15 duplicate certificate fee — this covers the cost of issuing a new commission certificate with your updated name
3. Provide a copy of your surety bond rider — your bonding company must issue a rider reflecting the new name on your existing bond

The bond rider is the step most people miss. Your surety bond is issued in your commissioned name. A legal name change means the bond no longer matches your commission unless the surety company updates it. Contact your bonding company before or simultaneously with the DOL application to request the rider. Most surety companies issue riders at no additional charge or for a nominal fee.

What Happens After Approval

Once the DOL processes your name change and issues the updated commission certificate:

1. Download the new certificate from your SAW account
2. Destroy your old stamp — it displays your former name and is no longer valid
3. Order a new stamp reflecting your new name and the same commission number (your commission number does not change with a name change)
4. Update your digital certificates if you hold an electronic records or RON endorsement — your X.509 certificate and electronic seal must match your new commissioned name

Your commission term, commission number, and endorsement status all carry over. The name change does not reset your commission clock or require a new application for endorsements you already hold.

Address and Contact Changes Are Simpler

If you change your address, email, or phone number (but not your legal name), the process is lighter:

• Log into your SAW account and update the contact details directly, or
• Email the DOL at [email protected] with your commissioned name, date of birth, previous contact details, and updated information

There is no fee for updating contact information, and the DOL does not issue an updated certificate for address changes. Your existing stamp and commission certificate remain valid.

You still must notify the DOL within 15 calendar days of the change.

Timing the Transition

The practical challenge is the gap between your legal name change and receiving the updated commission certificate. During this period:

• Continue notarizing under your former name (the one on your current stamp and certificate)
• Do not explain the discrepancy to signers beyond saying the update is in process — your former name is your legally valid commission name until the DOL says otherwise
• Avoid scheduling notarizations that reference your new name in the document text, as the name mismatch between the document and your stamp could cause confusion for recording offices

The DOL processes name change applications in roughly the same timeframe as standard applications: 10–14 business days for online submissions. Plan accordingly if the name change is tied to a time-sensitive event like a real estate closing.

The Washington Notary Commission guide includes a name change checklist covering the DOL application, bond rider, stamp replacement, and the transition rules for electronic endorsement holders.

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