We have measured ac conductivities and dielectric properties for silver stearate and for a silver soap mixture, which is predominantly silver behenate [AgO2C22H43](2). Excess fatty acid affects conductivity, thermal expansion and dielectric parameters of these samples. Conductivity increases accompanied by conductivity maxima occur at temperatures close to the acid melting points (around 65 degrees C) for samples containing excess fatty acid. At temperatures higher than 65 degrees C, relatively high conductivity of these samples is almost entirely the result of the acid liquid phase. Conductivity of all the samples under study was independent of Cu2+ content and seems limited by the extent of excess fatty acid removal. Silver stearate samples free from excess fatty acid show phase transitions at 124 degrees C and at 153 degrees C, The former is irreversible and leads to decreased conductivity, the latter is accompanied by the thermal decomposition of the silver carboxylates and an increase in conductivity. The conductivity increase and maximum at 65 degrees C, which appear after decomposition of acid-free silver carboxylate, suggest that free fatty acid is one of the decomposition product:;. IR spectroscopy confirms that the free fatty acid is indeed the product of this reaction. This acid formation greatly alters conductivity, and the resulting protons may function as charge carriers.