What happens if a Notary fails to renew their commission on time?

When a Notary fails to renew their commission on time, they must immediately stop performing notarizations until their commission is renewed. This is because a Notary's authority to perform notarizations is strictly linked to their active commission status. Once the commission expires, they are no longer legally allowed to serve in their capacity as a Notary Public, and any notarizations conducted post-expiration could be deemed invalid. This requirement ensures that all Notaries are up to date with their training, knowledge of laws, and ethical responsibilities, thus upholding the integrity of the notarization process.

The other options suggest scenarios that are not permissible according to Notary law, including continuing to perform notarizations temporarily, incurring fines while still working, or requesting extensions for renewal, which do not align with the mandated procedures for Notary commissions.