What action should a notary take when leaving their government employment?

When a notary leaves their government employment, it is crucial for them to resign their commission immediately. This action is necessary to ensure the integrity and reliability of notarizations performed under that commission. When a notary’s employment ends, their authority to act as a notary also concludes; therefore, continuing to act as a notary could lead to unauthorized notarizations. Notaries must protect the public trust and ensure that their notarial acts are carried out within the boundaries of their legal authority. This resignation prevents any potential misuse of the notary's seal and protects the notary from liability associated with any unauthorized acts.

The other options do not align with proper practice. Retaining notarial journals indefinitely could lead to complications related to record-keeping and privacy. A grace period for continuing notarial acts is not allowed, as the authority to notarize only exists during the period of active commission. Transferring a commission to another employee is not permissible, as each commission is specific to the individual notary and cannot be reassigned. This reinforces the importance of following the correct procedure upon leaving government employment.