{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/47.1-23.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/47.1-23.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/47.1-23.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/47.1-23.html"}],"law_id":58236,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58236,"structure_id":14059,"section_number":"47.1-23","catch_line":"Grounds for removal from office","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 47-2; 1962, p. 687; 1976, c. 559; 1979, c. 14; 1980, c. 580; 1983, c. 435; 2007, cc. 269, 590; 2013, c. 86; 2014, cc. 544, 783.","full_text":"The Secretary may revoke the commission of any notary who:\n\n1\n\nSubmits or has submitted an application for commission and appointment as a notary public which contains a substantial and material misstatement of fact;2\n\nIs convicted or has been convicted of any felony under the laws of the United States or this Commonwealth, or the laws of any other state, unless the notary has been pardoned for such offense, has had his conviction vacated by a granting of a writ of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored;3\n\nIs found to have committed official misconduct by a proceeding as provided in Chapter 5 (§ 47.1-24 et seq.);4\n\nFails to exercise the powers or perform the duties of a notary public in accordance with this title, provided that if a notary is adjudged liable in any court of the Commonwealth in any action grounded in fraud, misrepresentation, impersonation, or violation of the notary laws of the Commonwealth, such notary shall be presumed removable under this section;5\n\nPerforms a prohibited act pursuant to § 47.1-15 or 47.1-15.1;6\n\nIs convicted of the unauthorized practice of law pursuant to § 54.1-3904, or is a licensed attorney at law whose license is suspended or revoked;7\n\nCeases to be a legal resident of the United States;8\n\nBecomes incapable of reading or writing the English language;9\n\nIs adjudicated mentally incompetent; or10\n\nFails to keep the official physical seal, journal, or device, coding, disk, certificate, card, software, or passwords used to affix the notary’s official electronic signature or seal under the exclusive control of the notary when not in use.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":213407,"text":"The Secretary may revoke the commission of any notary who:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":213408,"text":"Submits or has submitted an application for commission and appointment as a notary public which contains a substantial and material misstatement of fact;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":213409,"text":"Is convicted or has been convicted of any felony under the laws of the United States or this Commonwealth, or the laws of any other state, unless the notary has been pardoned for such offense, has had his conviction vacated by a granting of a writ of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":213410,"text":"Is found to have committed official misconduct by a proceeding as provided in Chapter 5 (§ 47.1-24 et seq.);","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":213411,"text":"Fails to exercise the powers or perform the duties of a notary public in accordance with this title, provided that if a notary is adjudged liable in any court of the Commonwealth in any action grounded in fraud, misrepresentation, impersonation, or violation of the notary laws of the Commonwealth, such notary shall be presumed removable under this section;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":213412,"text":"Performs a prohibited act pursuant to § 47.1-15 or 47.1-15.1;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":213413,"text":"Is convicted of the unauthorized practice of law pursuant to § 54.1-3904, or is a licensed attorney at law whose license is suspended or revoked;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":213414,"text":"Ceases to be a legal resident of the United States;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":213415,"text":"Becomes incapable of reading or writing the English language;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":213416,"text":"Is adjudicated mentally incompetent; or","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":213417,"text":"Fails to keep the official physical seal, journal, or device, coding, disk, certificate, card, software, or passwords used to affix the notary’s official electronic signature or seal under the exclusive control of the notary when not in use.","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14059,"edition_id":1,"name":"Term of Office","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13724,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:44","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:44","permalink":{"id":233037,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14059,"identifier":"4","token":"47.1\/4","url":"\/47.1\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13724,"edition_id":1,"name":"Notaries and Out-Of-State Commissioners","identifier":"47.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","permalink":{"id":232925,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13724,"identifier":"47.1","token":"47.1","url":"\/47.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57866,"structure_id":14059,"section_number":"47.1-21","catch_line":"Commission as notary","url":"\/47.1-21\/","token":"47.1\/4\/47.1-21","metadata":false},{"id":55161,"structure_id":14059,"section_number":"47.1-22","catch_line":"Resignation; removal from Commonwealth; etc","url":"\/47.1-22\/","token":"47.1\/4\/47.1-22","metadata":false},{"id":58236,"structure_id":14059,"section_number":"47.1-23","catch_line":"Grounds for removal from office","url":"\/47.1-23\/","token":"47.1\/4\/47.1-23","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55161,"structure_id":14059,"section_number":"47.1-22","catch_line":"Resignation; removal from Commonwealth; etc","url":"\/47.1-22\/","token":"47.1\/4\/47.1-22","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/47.1-23\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1976, chapter 559; in 1979, chapter 14; in 1980, chapter 580; in 1983, chapter 435; in 2007, chapters 269<\/a> and 590<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 86<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 544<\/a> and 783<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":54718,"section_number":"47.1-15","catch_line":"Prohibitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/47.1-15\/"},{"id":66059,"section_number":"47.1-15.1","catch_line":"Additional prohibition on advertising; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/47.1-15.1\/"},{"id":59459,"section_number":"47.1-24","catch_line":"Removal of notary by administrative process; surrender of commission; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/47.1-24\/"},{"id":81050,"section_number":"54.1-3904","catch_line":"Penalty for practicing without authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3904\/"}],"permalink":{"id":233047,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58236,"identifier":"47.1-23","token":"47.1\/4\/47.1-23","url":"\/47.1-23\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/47.1-23\/","token":"47.1\/4\/47.1-23","dublin_core":{"Title":"Grounds for removal from office","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 47.1-23","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Secretary<\/span> may revoke the commission of any notary<\/span> who:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Submits or has submitted an application for commission and appointment as a notary public<\/span> which contains a substantial and material<\/span> misstatement of fact<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Is convicted or has been convicted of any felony<\/span> under the laws<\/span> of the United States<\/span> or this Commonwealth, or the laws<\/span> of any other state<\/span>, unless the notary has been pardoned for such offense<\/span>, has had his conviction<\/span> vacated by a granting of a writ<\/span> of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Is found to have committed official misconduct<\/span> by a proceeding as provided in Chapter 5 (§ 47.1-24<\/a> et seq.); <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Fails to exercise the powers or perform the duties of a notary public<\/span> in accordance with this title, provided that if a notary is adjudged liable in any court<\/span> of the Commonwealth in any action grounded in fraud<\/span>, misrepresentation, impersonation, or violation of the notary laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth, such notary shall be presumed removable under this section; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Performs a prohibited act pursuant to § 47.1-15<\/a> or 47.1-15.1<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Is convicted of the unauthorized practice of law pursuant to § 54.1-3904<\/a>, or is a licensed attorney at law<\/span> whose license is suspended or revoked; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Ceases to be a legal resident of the United States<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Becomes incapable of reading or writing the English language; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Is adjudicated mentally incompetent; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Fails to keep the official physical seal<\/span>, journal, or device, coding, disk, certificate<\/span>, card, software, or passwords used to affix the notary’s official electronic signature<\/span> or seal<\/span> under the exclusive control of the notary when not in use. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE (\u00a7 47.1-23)\n\nThe Secretary may revoke the commission of any notary who:\n\n1. Submits or has submitted an application for commission and appointment as a\nnotary public which contains a substantial and material misstatement of fact;\n\n2. Is convicted or has been convicted of any felony under the laws of the United\nStates or this Commonwealth, or the laws of any other state, unless the notary\nhas been pardoned for such offense, has had his conviction vacated by a granting\nof a writ of actual innocence, or has had his rights restored;\n\n3. Is found to have committed official misconduct by a proceeding as provided in\nChapter 5 (§ 47.1-24 et seq.);\n\n4. Fails to exercise the powers or perform the duties of a notary public in\naccordance with this title, provided that if a notary is adjudged liable in any\ncourt of the Commonwealth in any action grounded in fraud, misrepresentation,\nimpersonation, or violation of the notary laws of the Commonwealth, such notary\nshall be presumed removable under this section;\n\n5. Performs a prohibited act pursuant to § 47.1-15 or 47.1-15.1;\n\n6. Is convicted of the unauthorized practice of law pursuant to §\n54.1-3904, or is a licensed attorney at law whose license is suspended or\nrevoked;\n\n7. Ceases to be a legal resident of the United States;\n\n8. Becomes incapable of reading or writing the English language;\n\n9. Is adjudicated mentally incompetent; or\n\n10. Fails to keep the official physical seal, journal, or device, coding, disk,\ncertificate, card, software, or passwords used to affix the notary’s\nofficial electronic signature or seal under the exclusive control of the notary\nwhen not in use.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 47-2; 1962, p. 687; 1976, c. 559; 1979, c. 14; 1980, c.\n580; 1983, c. 435; 2007, cc. 269, 590; 2013, c. 86; 2014, cc. 544, 783.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}