Virginia Association of Notaries

08/27/2026

Upcoming Education Requirements for Virginia Notaries (Effective 2027)

§ 47.1-5.2. Course of instruction and examination; requirements for commission and recommission. (Effective July 1, 2027)
A. Within the six months immediately preceding a person's submission of an application to be commissioned as a notary public or electronic notary public pursuant to § 47.1-5, such person shall take a course of instruction developed by or approved by the Secretary on notarial laws, best practices and procedures for notaries, and verification of identity, and shall complete a written examination to the satisfaction of the Secretary. Such course of instruction shall be four hours in total, one hour of which shall be on the topic of real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly persons, including training on current trends and recognizing instances of suspected fraud or financial exploitation.
B. Within the six months immediately preceding the submission of an application for recommission, a notary public or an electronic notary public shall complete a course of instruction consistent with the provisions of subsection A, except that such course of instruction for a notary public or electronic notary public applying for recommission shall be two hours in total, one of which shall be on the topic of real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly persons, including training on current trends and recognizing instances of suspected fraud or financial exploitation. A notary public or electronic notary public shall complete the course of instruction as required by this subsection each time such notary public or electronic notary public applies for recommission.
Upon the completion of a course of instruction, an applicant shall be provided with written documentation of such completion that may serve as the proof required by §§ 47.1-5 and 47.1-5.1 that the applicable provisions of this section have been met.
(2026, cc. 364, 365)

08/27/2026

Upcoming Education Requirements for Virginia Notaries (Effective 2027) -

§ 47.1-5.2. Course of instruction and examination; requirements for commission and recommission. (Effective July 1, 2027)
A. Within the six months immediately preceding a person's submission of an application to be commissioned as a notary public or electronic notary public pursuant to § 47.1-5, such person shall take a course of instruction developed by or approved by the Secretary on notarial laws, best practices and procedures for notaries, and verification of identity, and shall complete a written examination to the satisfaction of the Secretary. Such course of instruction shall be four hours in total, one hour of which shall be on the topic of real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly persons, including training on current trends and recognizing instances of suspected fraud or financial exploitation.
B. Within the six months immediately preceding the submission of an application for recommission, a notary public or an electronic notary public shall complete a course of instruction consistent with the provisions of subsection A, except that such course of instruction for a notary public or electronic notary public applying for recommission shall be two hours in total, one of which shall be on the topic of real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly persons, including training on current trends and recognizing instances of suspected fraud or financial exploitation. A notary public or electronic notary public shall complete the course of instruction as required by this subsection each time such notary public or electronic notary public applies for recommission.
Upon the completion of a course of instruction, an applicant shall be provided with written documentation of such completion that may serve as the proof required by §§ 47.1-5 and 47.1-5.1 that the applicable provisions of this section have been met.
(2026, cc. 364, 365)

08/21/2026

📋 The Virginia Association of Notaries is growing our Board of Directors — and we want YOU on it.

We’re especially looking for:
⚖️ Paralegals
🏡 Realtors
✍️ Notaries Public who are small business owners or entrepreneurs

(Attorneys, and finance/insurance/marketing professionals — you’re welcome too!)

✅ This is a volunteer position — unpaid, just a few hours a week.

Here’s what you get in return:
🌟 Real leadership and governance experience
🌟 A “Board Member” credential for your resume and LinkedIn
🌟 A network of top-tier professionals across legal, real estate, and finance

Ready to lend your expertise? 📩 Reach out: [email protected]
🌐 vanotaryassoc.org

08/20/2026

📢 Virginia’s notary journal requirements changed as of July 2026. On August 25, the Virginia Association of Notaries is hosting a session with Derrick Spruill on what Public Officials need to know: why journaling matters, the Golden Rule, fraud prevention, and how journaling practices have evolved.

This is relevant for any commissioned notary in Virginia responsible for maintaining compliant records.

Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 7:00 PM EST Register: https://lnkd.in/eBZ8pvim

08/12/2026

🚨 ATTENTION VIRGINIA NOTARIES:
Important Compliance & Certificate Updates!

🚨With recent Virginia legislative changes in full swing, staying fully compliant is more important than ever for your commission.

Are your notarial certificates and record-keeping practices completely up to date? Make sure you are using fully state-compliant forms and adhering to the latest standards for every paper and electronic notarization. Don't risk your commission by using outdated wording or missing mandatory elements!

🔗 Read the full guidance and access approved resources here: https://vanotaryassoc.org/notarial-certificates/

✅ Review your certificates
✅ Keep your journal current
✅ Protect your public office and reputation

Please share this post to help keep our Virginia notary community informed and protected! 👇

Notarial Certificates All Purpose Acknowledgement (legal length) Acknowledgement Certificate for Signature by X and witnesses Certified Copy of an Original Electronic Notarization Acknowledgement Jurat One credible witness affidavit Two credible witnesses affidavit Verification of Fact Certificate

08/11/2026

🚨 ATTENTION VIRGINIA NOTARIES: Important Handbook Update!

🚨Have you downloaded the latest Virginia Notary Handbook yet? The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Notary Division just released an IMPORTANT CORRECTION that you need to know to stay compliant!

🔍 What Changed: The state has officially corrected the verbiage in the Acknowledgment certificate. The previous version incorrectly stated that the signer had to sign in the notary's presence. The updated wording fixes this error to accurately reflect Virginia law because for a standard acknowledgment, the document can be signed ahead of time as long as the signer physically appears before you to acknowledge their signature!

💡 Why This Matters: Using outdated certificate wording can cause problems with recorded documents. Make sure you are using the true, legally correct verbiage moving forward.

📲 Get the Correct Version Instantly:Don't rely on old saved files! You can view and download the official, updated PDF directly from the state here:

💬 Let’s talk in the comments: Have you already run into this confusing wording on your recent appointments? Drop a comment below and share this post to keep our fellow Virginia Notaries informed! 👇

👉 Virginia Notary Handbook in the link below on the SoC Notary Division website:
https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/notary-commissions/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATogNBjbGNrBOiAx3Bkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeUpjS40QJiaVDWQsIs0lsWPLpFW0CduEEFPHZL5sbnX6YCAM0VSl524jYArs_aem_tifwGNc7H5FyeO8knGSBwg

Candi Mundon King, Commonwealth, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Abigail Spanberger, governor, virginia, VA

08/05/2026

This was received from a signing company for anyone who is struggling lately with Adobe:

Here is what we know. Following the July 31, 2026 update to Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 26.001.21771), many users are experiencing partial printing failures due to a conflict with the print spooler rendering security engine. In plain English, Adobe pushed an update and now some closing packages will only print a page or two before stopping entirely. We are actively monitoring the situation and will notify you as soon as Adobe releases a hotfix patch. In the meantime, here is how to get your packages printed and get to your closing on time.
If Adobe is giving you trouble printing the full package, try these steps in order:
1. Print as Image
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
Select Menu > Print or press Ctrl + P.
Click Advanced at the bottom of the print window.
Check the box for Print as Image, click OK, and print as normal.
2. Disable Protected Mode
Go to Menu > Preferences or press Ctrl + K.
Select Security (Enhanced) from the left sidebar.
Uncheck the box labeled "Enable Protected Mode at startup" and click OK.
Close Adobe Acrobat completely.
Open Task Manager and end all Adobe related tasks to make sure everything is fully stopped.
Reopen Adobe Acrobat for the changes to take effect.
3. Run a Program Repair
Open Acrobat and select Help from the top menu toolbar.
Click Repair Acrobat Installation.
Wait for the wizard to finish and reboot your computer.
4. If None of the Above Work
Open the closing package PDF directly in your browser and print from there. It works and will get you through until Adobe sorts itself out. Just note that automatic paper tray selection between legal and letter sized pages will not function this way, so you will need to manage that manually. Which brings us to our next section.
If your printer is not automatically selecting the correct paper size (legal versus letter), here is how to sort that out:
On the Printer Itself
Check Your Tray Settings: On the printer's physical menu, navigate to Paper Tray or Tray Settings and manually assign the correct paper size to each tray. Tray 1 for letter, Tray 2 for legal, or however your setup is configured.
Check Your Paper Guides: Those plastic guides inside each tray are not just decorative. If they are misaligned or forced into the wrong position, the printer's sensors will misread the paper size entirely. Make sure they are snug against the paper stack without bending it.
On Your Computer
Windows Device Properties: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, open Printer Properties, and check the Device Settings tab to confirm that each tray is assigned the correct paper size.
Update Your Driver: If tray configuration options are missing or greyed out, you may be running a generic Microsoft driver. Visit your printer manufacturer's website and download the official full feature driver for your model. This usually resolves the issue entirely.
In Adobe or Word
Set Paper Source to Auto Select: In Adobe Acrobat, open the print dialog and make sure "Choose paper source by PDF page size" is checked. This tells Adobe to read each page's dimensions individually rather than forcing everything through one tray. In Microsoft Word, set the paper source to Auto Select under print settings.

07/26/2026

Second Tuesday Social — August 11, 2026 | 7:00 PM 🗓️
Virginia Association of Notaries members: join us for our monthly Second Tuesday Social, hosted by Rose Hall! 🌹
🤝 Connect with fellow notaries
📈 Build your network
📚 Learn something new
This is where VAN members trade real-world experience, get answers to the questions the handbook doesn't cover, and meet the people who make this profession stronger. Whether you're newly commissioned or years in, there's something here for you. ✨
Mark your calendar 📌 and bring a colleague!

07/11/2026

We’re SO proud of our team! 👏 VAN’s Technical Advisory Committee Chair Juanita M. Little-Lyons, along with Monique Edwards-Robinson and Tracey Dunn, was just featured in VLTA Examiner Magazine breaking down Virginia’s new Notary & Settlement Agent requirements for 2026-2027. 🎉

Read the full article: https://vltaexaminer.com/2026/06/30/new-virginia-notary-settlement-agent-requirements-2026-2027/

07/10/2026

☕ Second Tuesday Social is back!

📅 July 14 | 🕖 7:00 PM
Hosted by Rose Hall

Connect. Network. Learn.

No agenda, no pressure — just notaries getting together to talk shop, ask questions, and build real connections. Drop a 🙋 below if you’re in!

Register: https://vanotaryassoc.org/calendar/ #!event/2026/7/14/second-tuesday-social-meet-up-with-rose-hall