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NC Administrative Rules 2025 (18 NCAC 07C)

Rule/Regulation

State: North Carolina

Effective: July 01, 2025

Summary

The Secretary of State adopts new Notary seal issuance rules in Subchapter 07C of the North Carolina Administrative Code.

Affects

Adds 18 NCAC 07C .0801, .0802, .0803, .0804, and .0805.

Changes
  1. Prohibits an applicant or appointee for an initial commission as a Notary Public from ordering or purchasing a seal until the applicant or appointee has complied with the requirements of Section .0400 of Subchapter 07C of the rules.
  2. Provides that a Notary’s seal shall be deemed by the Department to comply with GS 10B-37 if it contains the words “State of North Carolina” in lieu of the designations in GS 10B-37(b)(4).
  3. Prohibits a Notary’s seal manufactured after July 1, 2025, from including information or images other than those required or permitted by GS 10B-37 and Rule 07C .0802.
  4. Requires a Notary who seeks to order or purchase a seal to: (a) select a seal manufacturer or vendor from among the registered seal manufacturers and vendors listed on the Department’s website; and (b) present the Notary’s commission certificate to the manufacturer or vendor.
  5. Provides that if a Notary seeks to order or purchase a seal in person, the Notary must comply with Rule 07C .0804 and: (a) be personally known to the manufacturer or vendor; or (b) present satisfactory evidence of identity to the manufacturer or vendor.
Analysis

This new law update is the second in a series of law updates on the Phase III rules adopted by the North Carolina Secretary of State. In what are the fewest new or amended rules in the Phase III rulemaking, the changes to Subchapter 07C pertain to the obtaining and contents of an official Notary seal. The new rules only authorize an applicant or appointee to an initial Notary commission to order or purchase a seal once they have been granted a Notary commission. The new rules also require a Notary to select an approved seal provider and provide a copy of their commission certificate to the seal vendor. These provisions arguably are intended to cut down on instances of Notary seal and deed fraud in North Carolina.

Read the Subchapter 07B administrative rules (see page 153).

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