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Notaries in the Military


I am currently active duty military and a notary public. I am relocating to another state later this year. Is my notary commission transferrable state to state?

In most states, notaries public are restricted only to statewide jurisdiction when performing notarial acts. Consult with your Jag office to determine if your military status makes you eligible to perform notarial acts pursuant to federal laws.

I am a commissioned notary and a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard. When I notarize documents, under which authority and office should I be notarizing?

The statutes in many states state that a commissioned officer of the United States armed forces or of a United States armed forces auxiliary may administer an oath made by a member of the armed forces, a member of an armed forces auxiliary, or a member's spouse and may give a certificate of the fact. Consult with your Jag office to determine if your military status makes you eligible to perform notarial acts pursuant to federal laws

Legal disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. We do not claim to be attorneys and we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. You should always seek the advice of a licensed attorney for any legal matters. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate notary laws governing your state. In no event shall the American Association of Notaries, its employees, or contractors be liable to you for any claims, penalties, losses, damages, or expenses, howsoever arising, including, and without limitation, direct or indirect loss, or consequential loss, out of or in connection with the use of the information contained on any of the American Association of Notaries website pages. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of their state’s notary authorities or attorneys if they have legal questions.