Name Change, New County, and a Stamp That No Longer Matches
Alicia Thompson was commissioned as a North Dakota notary in March 2022; her commission expires in March 2028. In June 2025 she married and took the name Alicia Ramirez. In August 2025 she moved from Cass County to Burleigh County. She continued using her old stamp, which reads "Alicia R. Thompson - Notary Public - State of North Dakota - Expires March 2028," because she had a box of 500 forms and did not want to waste them. She also notarized a deed in September 2025 for a friend, signing as "Alicia Ramirez" while the stamp said "Alicia R. Thompson." The friend's lender rejected the deed in October and asked for a corrected acknowledgment. Alicia's employer asks whether she needs a new commission and whether the September deed can be fixed by attaching a new certificate.
1. What must Alicia report to the Secretary of State after her marriage and move, and by when?
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Alicia must notify the Secretary of State of both the name change and the address change. North Dakota expects a notary to keep commission records current, and the practical deadline is the statutory notice period, commonly 30 days. She should not wait until renewal in 2028. The move from Cass County to Burleigh County does not by itself require a new commission, but the address of record must be updated. The name change is more serious because the commission name, bond, and seal must be consistent. She should request the correct updated commission record and obtain a seal in the new commissioned name. Continuing to use the old seal after a legal name change creates a mismatch that lenders and recording offices can reject.
2. Was the September acknowledgment properly executed? What should Alicia do now?
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It was not properly executed. The signature name and the seal name must match the commissioned name and the certificate. Signing as "Alicia Ramirez" while stamping "Alicia R. Thompson" creates a discrepancy that the lender correctly flagged. Alicia cannot simply attach a new certificate to the existing deed and backdate it. A notarial certificate must reflect an act actually performed at the time. The clean fix is for the signer to appear again before a notary commissioned under the correct name and to acknowledge the deed anew, with a complete certificate and matching seal. If the deed has already been recorded, the parties should consult counsel about a correction or re-recording rather than altering the original.
3. Does moving to Burleigh County require a new bond or a new commission?
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A move within North Dakota does not automatically require a new commission or a new bond. Her existing commission continues, but she must update her address with the Secretary of State so official records and service of process are accurate. A new bond is generally tied to a new commission term or a new commissioning event, not a routine in-state move. The name change is different: she should follow the Secretary of State's procedure for updating the commission record and obtaining a corrected certificate. Until that is done, she should not notarize under a name that does not match her commission.