                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REMOVAL OF NOTARY BY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS; SURRENDER OF COMMISSION; PENALTY
(§ 47.1-24)

A. Whenever the Secretary shall have reason to believe that a notary has been
guilty of official misconduct pursuant to this chapter, or is otherwise subject
to removal from office, an evidentiary proceeding under the provisions of the
Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; 2.2-4000 et seq.) shall be held.
			B through D. [Repealed.]

E. If the Secretary determines that the notary is guilty of official misconduct
or grounds exist for the removal of the notary and his case decision is not
thereafter reversed or suspended by a court of law, the Secretary may issue an
order removing the notary from office, suspending the notary from office for a
period of time not to extend beyond the date of expiration of the notary&#8217;s
commission, or reprimanding the notary.

F. Upon being notified that an evidentiary proceeding has been initiated under
this section, the notary who is the subject of such a proceeding shall forthwith
cease to serve as a notary for a period of sixty days, or until his case has
been decided, whichever period shall be shorter. If the Secretary finds that
grounds for removal exist, such notary shall be further suspended from serving
as a notary until the Secretary has made a final disposition of the case under
subsection E of this section; however, no notarial act shall be deemed invalid
solely by reason of having been performed by a notary who has been suspended
pursuant to this subsection.

G. Any notary ordered removed from office under this section shall forthwith
mail or deliver his commission to the Secretary, who shall cancel the same. Any
notary ordered suspended under this section shall forthwith surrender his
commission to the Secretary for the duration of such suspension.

H. [Repealed.]

I. Any notary failing to deliver his commission to the Secretary pursuant to an
order of the Secretary under this section shall be guilty of a Class 3
misdemeanor.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 47-2.1 through 47-4.6, 47-4.8; 1972, c. 824; 1978, c.
621; 1979, c. 410; 1980, c. 580; 1983, c. 435.