Your commission expires.
Most people find out too late.
Renew a New York notary commission through your county clerk: the State fee is $60, and no exam is needed if you apply before your four-year term expires or within six months after it. Past that window you must pass the $15 written exam again — walk-in at the 12 sites outside New York City, by appointment (exams@dos.ny.gov) in NYC; the next exam is September 29, 2026.
Renewing a New York notary commission costs $60 and needs no exam — if you file in time. Miss the window by more than six months and you sit the written test again. Check your date below, free.
82,676 New York commissions expire in the next twelve months.
When does my commission expire?
Type your name as it appears on your commission. This searches New York State's own public register of commissioned notaries, live.
Tip: the State stores names as they appear on your application, usually First Middle Last. If nothing comes back, try your surname on its own.
How New York notary renewal works
A New York notary public commission runs for four years. It does not renew itself, and the State does not reliably chase you about it. Renewal is a reappointment: you file with your county clerk and pay the State’s $60 fee. Do it inside the window and the qualifying requirements — including the written examination — can be waived. That is the difference between a $60 form and starting over.
The six-month rule, in the State's own words
“… where a notary public applies, before the expiration of his or her term, for reappointment with the county clerk or where a person whose term as notary public shall have expired applies within 6 months thereafter for reappointment as a notary public with the county clerk, such qualifying requirements may be waived by the Secretary of State…”
That single sentence is the whole game. Renew before your term ends — or within six months after it ends — and the Secretary of State can waive the qualifying requirements, which is what spares you the written exam. Let the six months run out and there is no waiver available: you re-qualify like a first-time applicant.
Executive Law § 130, as published in the Department of State's Notary Public License Law (March 2026 edition). Note the statute says may be waived, not must — the decision rests with the Secretary of State. This page is information, not legal advice.
What New York actually charges
| Renewal (reappointment) | $60 |
| Initial application | $60 |
| Written exam (each attempt) | $15 |
| Change of name or address | $10 |
| Returned check | $20 |
Source: New York Department of State published fee schedule, dos.ny.gov. Do not send cash; fees are nonrefundable.
The three situations you can be in
File the reappointment with your county clerk before the expiry date. $60. No exam. This is the easy path and it is the only one fully in your control.
You are still inside the statutory grace window. Apply now, with the same $60 fee, and the Secretary of State may still waive the qualifying requirements. Every week you wait narrows this.
The waiver is gone. You re-qualify as a new applicant: sit the written exam ($15 per attempt), pass at 70%, then file a fresh $60 application. Many first-time candidates do not pass, so prepare properly before you book.
When New York’s commissions expire
Counted from the State’s published register of all 228,042 active commissions. March 2027 is the single heaviest month.
| August 2026 | 3,053 |
| September 2026 | 5,178 |
| October 2026 | 6,650 |
| November 2026 | 6,812 |
| December 2026 | 6,827 |
| January 2027 | 6,570 |
| February 2027 | 7,365 |
| March 2027 | 9,312 |
| April 2027 | 7,950 |
| May 2027 | 8,331 |
| June 2027 | 7,402 |
| July 2027 | 5,577 |
| August 2027 | 1,649 |
We will email you 90 days before your term ends.
New York does not reliably remind you. Miss the window by more than six months and you sit the written exam again — that is the whole reason this page exists. One email, then one more at 30 days. Nothing else.
By county
Commissions expiring in the next twelve months.
Questions people actually ask
Do I have to take the exam again to renew?+
No, as long as you renew in time. Under Executive Law 130, if you apply for reappointment before your term expires, or within six months after it expires, the Secretary of State may waive the qualifying requirements, which includes the written examination. Past that six-month window there is no waiver and you must sit the exam again.
How much does it cost to renew a NY notary commission?+
$60, paid to the New York Department of State. That is the same as the initial application fee. The written exam, if you are forced to retake it, is a separate $15 per attempt.
How long is a New York notary commission?+
Four years. Your exact expiry date is printed on your commission and is also published in the State's public register, which you can search at the top of this page.
Where do I file the renewal?+
With your county clerk, not directly with the Department of State. Executive Law 130 refers specifically to applying for reappointment with the county clerk. Your clerk's office holds your oath and signature on file.
Does New York remind me before my commission expires?+
Not reliably, which is why people lose their commissions by accident. The State publishes expiry dates as open data but does not guarantee a notice. You can sign up above and we will email you 90 days and 30 days before your term ends.
My commission expired more than six months ago. What now?+
You are treated as a new applicant: register for the written exam, pass it, and file a fresh application with the $60 fee. Our $25 prep package covers the current exam.
How many New York notary commissions expire each year?+
About 57,000 commissions are issued or renewed each year. In the twelve months from August 2026 alone, 82,676 active commissions reach their expiry date, based on the State's own published register.
Is this an official government service?+
No. Pass NY Notary is an independent preparation service and is not affiliated with the New York Department of State. The commission data shown here is republished from the State's public Open Data portal. Always confirm your status with your county clerk.
Have to take the exam again?
If your commission lapsed past the six-month window, you sit the same written exam as a first-timer. Our package is 101 practice questions, a full study guide and an exam-day cheat sheet,.
Get the prep package — $25Lifetime access · 60-day pass-or-refund guarantee