Notary Stamp and Seal Requirements

Notary Stamp & Seal Requirements

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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.

John R. Curran, MD: Marlborough Hospital Endoscopy

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