Which of the following describes the potential consequences for violating notary law?

• A. A warning letter only.
• B. Civil liability only.
• C. Automatic revocation without due process.
• D. Disciplinary action, possible loss of commission, civil liability, and potential criminal penalties.

Answer: (D)

The main concept here is that violations of notary law can lead to a range of penalties, not just a single outcome. When a notary commits misconduct, state regulators can discipline the notary—up to suspending or revoking the commission. In addition, the harmed party may bring civil liability claims for damages caused by improper notarization. Depending on the seriousness and intent, criminal penalties can also apply, potentially including offenses like fraud or falsification. This breadth is why describing disciplinary action along with possible loss of commission, civil liability, and criminal penalties is the best choice. The other options are too narrow or inaccurate: a warning letter alone doesn’t reflect the typical regulatory response; civil liability alone ignores regulatory and criminal consequences; and automatic revocation without due process ignores the due-process procedures usually required before disciplinary actions.