Renewal, Record Changes, and Administration
Term and renewal
New Hampshire notary commissions run for a five-year term. Track the expiration date and renew before it lapses. A renewal is a new appointment process: use the current form, pay the fee, complete any required criminal record check or endorsements, and take and file the oath again if instructed. Do not notarize after expiration while waiting for renewal.
Record changes
Notify the Secretary of State promptly of a legal name change or address change. Use the official form and include the commission information. Update your seal to match a name change, and destroy or retire the old stamp. Keep your commission, oath copy, and seal in a secure place. If your commission is lost, request a replacement as directed.
Worked example
A notary moves from Manchester to Dover and continues using the Manchester address on certificates. A lender questions the commission record. The notary files an address change and updates the stamp. The commission was never invalid, but the mismatch created avoidable delay. Reasoning: the public record and the certificate should identify the same notary.
Traps
Waiting until the day after expiration to renew. Assuming a name change automatically updates the commission. Keeping an old seal after a name change. Failing to file a new oath when reappointed.