What type of action may the Secretary of State take?
The most severe action that the secretary of state can take is to revoke the notary’s commission. The secretary cannot determine the validity of the notarized document nor obtain restitution for the complainant. The secretary of state may determine that the actions of the notary public are not sufficiently egregious to warrant formal disciplinary action. The secretary may determine to take no action on the complaint, or informally advise the notary public of the appropriate conduct and the applicable statutes and rules governing the conduct.
In cases where good cause exists for the secretary of state to take disciplinary action against a notary public, the actions can range from an informal reprimand to a revocation of the notary’s commission. This office cannot determine the validity of the notarized document or obtain restitution for the complainant. If you need assistance determining the validity of the document or obtaining restitution, you should consult with your private attorney regarding how to proceed. If you need information regarding filing a claim against the notary’s bond, you should contact the surety company. The name of the surety company is available on the Notary Public Search service on the secretary of state’s website.
