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Notary Stamp & Seal Requirements

PLEASE NOTE: All links on this web site www.notaries.org will take you to ASN's main site, www.ASNNotary.org. If you have any questions please call ASN (850) 671-5164.
 

What All Notaries Should Know About Their Stamp or Seal.

•  Keep your notarial stamp or seal under your control at all times—do NOT allow unguarded access to your stamp or seal as this often results in unauthorized use.  
•  Your notary stamp or seal is yours to use and keep; your employer has no right to control or keep your stamp or seal even if the employer paid for it.  
•  You must report a lost or missing seal immediately to your state notary authority. 
•  If you obtain a new stamp or seal because the old one expired or your name changed, you should destroy or
deface the old stamp or seal.  
•  Your state notary laws will indicate whether a notary ink stamp or embossing seal is required in your commissioned state, and what must appear on the stamp and/or seal. You may use the chart below for a quick reference; see your state statutes for complete information about your state's notary ink stamp or embossing seal requirements.


State
Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Alabama Embossing Seal Required
Alaska Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Arizona Ink Stamp Required - (Round or Rectangular)
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. Embossing seal may ONLY be used in conjunction with ink stamp.
Arkansas Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
California Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. Embossing seal should ONLY be used in conjunction with ink stamp.
Colorado Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Connecticut Not Required
Delaware Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
District of Columbia  Embossing Seal Required
Florida Ink Stamp Required (Round or Rectangular)
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. Embossing Seal may ONLY be used in conjunction with ink stamp.
Georgia Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Hawaii Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Notaries may ONLY have either a stamp or a seal – NOT BOTH. The notary stamp/seal must be surrendered to the Attorney General’s Office within 90 days of resignation, removal from office, or the expiration of a commission term without renewal.
Idaho Ink Stamp Required 
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Illinois Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Indiana Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal Impression must be photographically reproducible.
Iowa Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Kansas Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Kentucky Not Required
Louisiana Not Required
NOTE- The State of Louisiana considers the notary's signature the notarial seal.
Maine Not Required
Maryland Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Massachusetts Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Michigan Not Required
NOTE- If a stamp/seal is used the seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Minnesota Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. An embossing seal may ONLY be used in conjunction with the ink stamp.
Mississippi Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. An embossing seal may ONLY be used in conjunction with the ink stamp.
Missouri Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Montana Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- For new and renewal commissions issued on or after OCTOBER 1, 2009, notaries will be required to use an ink stamp prescribed by the Secretary of State. Currently commissioned notaries may continue to use either a stamp or an embosser until they renew.
Nebraska Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Nevada Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.
New Hampshire Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Along with the official seal, he/she must also have a separate rubber stamp that contains the commission expiration date.
New Jersey Not Required
New Mexico Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- A Round ink stamp is NOT acceptable.
New York Not Required
North Carolina Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
North Dakota Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Ohio Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Oklahoma Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Oregon Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Pennsylvania Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp. Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Rhode Island Not Required
NOTE- Although the use of an official seal is not required by law it is prudent that all notaries use a seal when performing notarial acts.
South Carolina Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
South Dakota Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Tennessee Round Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Round stamp must contain any ink color OTHER THAN black or yellow ink. Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Texas Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
U.S. Virgin Islands  Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Ink stamp may be used but ONLY in conjunction with embossing seal.
Utah Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- The ink stamp MUST contain purple ink. Seal impression MUST be photographically reproducible. Upon the resignation, revocation, or expiration of a notarial commission, the seal shall be destroyed. A new seal shall be obtained for any new commission or recommission.
Vermont Not Required
NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
Virginia Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Washington Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
West Virginia Ink Stamp Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. An embossing seal may ONLY be used in conjunction with ink stamp.
Wisconsin Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Wyoming Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.


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