The U.S. Government Shutdown: What It Actually Means for Notaries

Oct 1

4 min read

If you’ve been scrolling lately, you’ve probably seen a lot of scary posts about the government shutdown in the U.S. Some of them make it sound like everything is about the notary industry is about to fall apart and we know that can be stressful when you’re trying to run your notary business.

So let’s clear this up together. The truth is that for most notaries, your work hasn’t changed. You’re still able to notarize documents, meet with clients, and keep your business moving. But, just like in past shutdowns, there are a few situations where things could slow down.

First off, what even is a government shutdown?

A shutdown happens when Congress doesn’t agree on a budget to fund certain parts of the government. When that happens, agencies that depend on that funding basically run out of money to keep operating at full capacity.

Here’s what usually happens:

Essential services keep going. Things like border patrol, Social Security checks, air traffic control, etc., don’t stop. Employees often still have to work, even if they don’t get paid right away
Non-essential services hit pause. That could be research programs, grant funding, some customer service offices, and other “nice-to-have” functions.

This isn’t new. The U.S. has gone through multiple shutdowns since the 1970s. The longest one ever was 35 days back in 2018–2019, and while it caused delays at airports and some agencies closed, daily life for most people didn’t completely stop. (Source: Brookings Institute)

So… does this affect notaries?

Short answer: Not directly.

Notaries are commissioned at the state level, not federal. That means your authority as a notary doesn’t disappear just because the federal government shuts down. Your notarizations are still valid, your stamp still works, and you’re still able to meet with clients. Yaaay!

But here’s where you might notice some hiccups:

Immigration documents: Most of USCIS is funded by filing fees, so it doesn’t shut down the same way other agencies do. But some programs or services connected to immigration could see slowdowns
Court filings: Federal courts usually keep going for a few weeks using reserve funds. If a shutdown drags on, some civil or administrative cases might get delayed (Reuters)
Federal certifications: If a client needs their notarized document authenticated or reviewed by a federal agency, that step could take longer than usual

But the important part is that in all of these situations, your notarization itself is not the problem. It’s still valid. The slowdown happens later in the process, at the agency level.

What a shutdown does not mean

Let’s knock out some of the myths we’ve seen floating around online:

A shutdown does not invalidate your notarizations
Your state commission isn’t paused, you’re still a notary
The whole government isn’t closed. Essential services continue, and agencies have backup plans to stretch operations for weeks

For example, during the 2018–2019 shutdown, the USPS still delivered mail, TSA agents still screened passengers, and Social Security checks still went out. What people noticed most were longer lines at airports and slower tax refunds because the IRS had fewer staff. (Source: CBS News)

How different services might be impacted

Notaries wear a lot of hats these days. Let’s look at each service one by one.

General Notarization

Your ability to do notarizations doesn’t change, it’s governed by state law.
The only risk is if the notarized document needs to go to a federal agency after. That’s where delays can show up.

Loan Signings & Real Estate Closings

FHA, VA, USDA loans rely on federal agencies. In past shutdowns, processing times slowed because agencies didn’t have enough staff to approve or underwrite loans.
Title and insurance requirements, like flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, have lapsed during shutdowns before, holding up closings.
County recorders (where deeds are filed) are usually state/local, so less likely to be affected directly.

So if you’re a signing agent, expect that federally backed loans could take longer to close. (Source: CBS News)

Apostille & Authentication Services

State-level apostilles (like from your Secretary of State’s office) usually continue as normal
Federal-level authentications (e.g. Department of State for federal docs) could face delays, since those employees may be furloughed

If your client’s apostille requires a stop at the U.S. Department of State, let them know the timeline could stretch.

Fingerprinting & Background Checks

Local fingerprinting for jobs or licenses usually continues.
FBI background checks or immigration-related fingerprinting could be slower since they rely on federal staff and systems

If your clients need fingerprints for something tied to immigration or federal licensing, warn them it might not move as fast.

Mailing & Courier Services

USPS keeps running during shutdowns. (It’s funded separately, not through annual appropriations.)
FedEx, UPS, and other couriers continue as usual.
The delay risk is only on the receiving end if you’re mailing to a federal agency that’s short-staffed.

Tips for notaries during this time

Here’s how you can handle this without stressing yourself or your clients:

Keep working like normal. Your commission hasn’t changed.
Reassure your clients. If they’re nervous, explain that their notarization is still valid. The only possible delays are on the government’s side.
Set expectations upfront. If a document does involve a federal step (like immigration or apostille services), let your client know there could be longer wait and processing times.
Stay informed from real sources. Instead of social media rumours, check credible outlets or official government sites.
Write things down. If a client’s process is delayed because of the shutdown, note it for your records, it can save confusion later.

Final thoughts

Shutdowns create a lot of noise, but for notaries, the impact is usually pretty minimal. Your role doesn’t change. The biggest difference is just that some agencies might take longer to process things if the shutdown drags on.

So keep showing up, keep serving your clients, and don’t let the fear-mongering distract you. If anything major changes that actually affects notaries, we’ll make sure to update you.