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Notary Bulletin

How Do I Dispose Of My Old Notary Embosser And Journal?

By NNA Staff on July 13, 2017

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Could you tell me how to dispose of my Notary embosser and journal? — A.S., Maryland

A Notary Public in the state of Maryland should retain their journal (notarial record) for at least 5 years from the last entry, according to the Maryland Secretary of State’s website.

The state does not address disposing of an embosser. Professional practice recommends that you destroy the embosser by disfiguring the plate.

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 counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

 

 

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3 Comments

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Stanley Kalish

17 Jul 2017

Unless location of qualification and certification has drastically changed, your expiration date can be crossed out and changed by had. In most cases, no need to destroy a stamp.

Laverta Mason

17 Jul 2017

still reading

Venita Peyton

24 Jul 2017

Good question! Perhaps reason for defacing/destroying the stamp is to eliminate the potential for fraud - especially if the Notary is incapacitated or has died.

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