The National Notary Bulletin

Can I enter Notary information on a mylar map?

By NNA Staff on January 17, 2023

Photo of woman with long dark hair on phone. She is looking at papers in her hand. Text on image reads NNA Hotline Tip.

I am notarizing a signature on a mylar map. There are informational lines on the map that allow me to put all my notary information on the map (since my stamp won't work) Is this okay? — J.S., California

Yes. Because many seal inks smear on plastic-surfaced subdivision maps, Government Code Section 66436 authorizes California Notaries to complete acknowledgment certificates printed on such maps without affixing your seal impression. The Notary is required to type or print the following information below the Notary’s signature:

The Notary’s name - exactly as it is on their commission;
The county of the principal place of business – this is the county that is listed on your stamp, and
The commission expiration date.

Please note the above guidelines apply to California only. If you are commissioned in a state outside California and have questions about a request to notarize a mylar map, please call the NNA Notary Hotline at 1-888-876-0827 (non-NNA members may have one question answered at no charge) or contact your state Notary regulating agency for assistance.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline consultants to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

4 Comments

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Luz Rose

23 Jan 2023

I would like to see an exemplar of the notarial Mylarmap, please.

Jerry Lucas

24 Jan 2023

Water-based ink works when the document surface is porous, such as paper, which absorbs the ink like a sponge. For a non-porous surface, such as a Mylar plat map, water-based ink will not work since it is not absorbed. Use an industrial type solvent-based ink on smooth surfaces. StazOn brand foam ink pads are readily available at stores. Also, purchase their companion ink solvent cleaner to clean your rubber stamp with a cotton-tipped swab after use to prevent rubber deterioration. Do a practice stamp first on a plastic bag. Sign with a fine tip permanent ink pen, such as a Sharpie.

Steven Ransom

27 Jan 2023

Here's the appropriate section covering this, as found in the U.S. Notary Primer For U.S. states and the District of Columbia handbook: The law allows a condition under which a notary public may authenticate an official act without using an official notary public seal. Because subdivision maps are usually drawn on a material that will not accept standard stamp pad ink and other acceptable inks are not as readily available, acknowledgments for California subdivision map certificates may be notarized without the official seal. The notary public’s name, the county of the notary public’s principal place of business, and the commission expiration date must be typed or printed below or immediately adjacent to the notary public’s signature on the acknowledgment. (Government Code section 66436(c))

National Notary Association

10 Mar 2023

Hello. Readers should please note that the above information is for California only.