| Item | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Commission term | 4 years | Exec. Law §130 |
| Exam fee (each attempt) | $15 | 19 NYCRR §182.11 |
| Exam time limit | 1 hour | DOS exam instructions |
| Exam results valid for | 2 years | DOS exam instructions |
| Application fee | $60 ($40 appointment + $20 oath filing) | Exec. Law §131 |
| Renewal fee | $60 | 19 NYCRR §182.11 |
| Apply to renew up to | 90 days before expiration | 19 NYCRR §182.10 |
| Exam may be waived if you reapply within | 6 months after expiration | Exec. Law §130 |
| Report a change of name, address or e-mail within | 5 days | 19 NYCRR §182.3 |
| Change or duplicate ID card fee | $10 | 19 NYCRR §182.11 |
| Fee per oath or affirmation | $2 | Exec. Law §136 |
| Fee per acknowledgment (each person) | $2 | Exec. Law §136 |
| Fee per electronic notarial act | $25 | 19 NYCRR §182.11 |
| Electronic notary registration fee | $60 | 19 NYCRR §182.11 |
| Keep notarial records for at least | 10 years | 19 NYCRR §182.9 |
| Keep remote session recordings for at least | 10 years | Exec. Law §135-c |
| Protest of a note (max) | 75¢ + 10¢ per notice (up to 5) | Exec. Law §135 |
| County clerk authentication | $3 | Exec. Law §133 |
| Certificate of official character (Secretary of State) | $1 | Exec. Law §132 |
| Filing a certificate of official character with a county clerk | $10 | Exec. Law §132 |
| Foreign-language ad violation (max civil penalty) | $1,000 | Exec. Law §135-b |
| Forgery in the 2nd degree (false acknowledgment) | Class D felony, up to 7 years | Penal Law §170.10 |
| Issuing a false certificate | Class E felony | Penal Law §175.40 |
| Official misconduct | Class A misdemeanor, up to 1 year | Penal Law §195.00 |
| Ink color for the §137 signature block | Black | Exec. Law §137 |
| Seal required? | No | Definitions: Seal |
| Jurisdiction | Statewide | Exec. Law §130 |
Memory hooks
- "4-2-60": a 4-year term, a $2 fee, and a $60 application or renewal.
- "5 to tell, 10 to keep": report changes within 5 days, keep records for 10 years.
- "$2 on paper, $25 on screen": paper acts versus electronic acts.
- "No seal, no wedding, no will": no seal is required, notaries can't marry people, and notaries don't acknowledge wills.
Test yourself on these with Number Sprint in the full version.
Frequently asked questions
Do New York notaries need a seal?
No. NY law does not require a seal, but the §137 information must appear in black ink beneath the signature.