Notary Bulletin

Hotline Tip: Should I Use A Seal If My State Doesn't Require It?

While some states don’t legally require a Notary to use a seal, they can add authenticity and professionalism to a document.

In the absence of a seal, states often require that the Notary’s name, title and commission expiration date be stamped, typed or printed in ink that can be photocopied near the signature of the Notary. A seal can accomplish this in states that require it, and even in non-seal states, redundancy of this information in a seal still has value.

For example, if you’re notarizing a document that’s going out of state, it could be challenged or questioned in a state that requires seals.

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June 2013 Bulletin Quiz: Taking Care Of Your Tools

You know how to use your seal and journal of notarial acts, but what happens if someone asks to borrow them? What do you do with them when traveling, and what steps must be followed when they are obsolete? Take our quiz and test your knowledge of caring for tools of your office.

(A link to the correct answers is provided at the end of the quiz.)

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions.

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