Notary Supplies

Stamp and Seal Requirements

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 stamp or seal is required in your state, and what must appear on the stamp or seal. Use the chart below for a quick reference; see your state statutes for complete information about your notary stamp or seal requirements.

State	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- 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 NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
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- 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
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 NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
Louisiana	Not Required NOTE- The State of Louisiana considers the notary's signature the notarial seal.
Maine	Not Required NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
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.
Mississippi	Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required NOTE-Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Missouri	Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Montana	Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required NOTE-Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Nebraska	Ink Stamp Required NOTE-Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Nevada	Ink Stamp Required NOTE-Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
New Hampshire	Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
New Jersey	Not Required NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
New Mexico	Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required NOTE- A Round ink stamp is not acceptable.
New York	Not Required NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
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- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Rhode Island	Not Required NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
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.
Texas	Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required NOTE- Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Utah	Ink Stamp Required NOTE- Ink stamp MUST contain purple ink. Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.
Vermont	Not Required NOTE- Although the use of a seal is not required ASN strongly recommends it.
Virginia	Not Required NOTE- If a stamp/seal is used the impression must be photographically reproducible.
Virgin Islands (U.S.)	Embossing Seal Required
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.

All Images and Content Copyright 2005-2008©, American Society of Notaries, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any content is prohibited without express, written permission from the American Society of Notaries. Click to view our Privacy Policy.
P.O. Box 5707 • Tallahassee, FL 32314 • (850) 671-5164
www.ASNNotary.org • www.notaryeducation.com •
www.onlinenotarytraining.org • www.notaries.org

American Society of Notaries

Home

ASN Membership

Stamp & Seal Requirements

Notary Recordbook - Journal Requirements

About ASN

Contact ASN