New York State Notary Practice Exam

What is the consequence for a notary public who ceases to have a place of business in New York State?

1. They maintain their commission

2. They must reapply as a resident

3. They vacate their office

4. They can transfer their commission to another state

The correct answer is: They vacate their office

When a notary public in New York State ceases to have a place of business within the state, the correct consequence is that they vacate their office. In New York, a notary's commission is tied to their established place of business. If a notary no longer has a business address in the state, they are no longer able to perform notarial acts as a New York notary public. Maintaining a commission implies that the notary is still eligible to serve, but without an active place of business, this is not possible. The options that suggest maintaining the commission or transferring it to another state do not apply in this situation since the responsibilities and privileges associated with the notary’s office are contingent upon their residency and business location in New York. Therefore, the requirement for a notary is clear: the office is vacated when the business premise is no longer valid.