What action should a notary take when a name or address is changed?
Whenever the name of a notary is changed, the notary may continue to perform official acts under the name in which the notary was commissioned, until the expiration of commission. However, it is preferable to use the form New Name, commissioned as Prior Name. The notary shall, within 30 days after a change of name or address notify the Secretary of State and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County, or Baltimore City, depending upon where the notary received the commission. A notary who wishes to obtain a commission in a new name may do so by requesting a name change application from the Secretary of State, which is to be completed and returned, along with the old commission. The notary must appear before the Clerk to be sworn in and pay an administrative fee of $8.00. When a new commission is issued because of a change of name, the previous commission held in the old name is canceled.
