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Notary Stamp and Seal Requirements

Here's a list of five things that all Notaries should know about their notary stamp or Seal.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. You must report a lost or missing seal immediately to your state notary authority.

4. 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.

5. 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.



Notary stamp and seal requirements by your local State;
Alabama- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Notaries commissioned before 1/1/12 may continue using existing embossing seals that indicated "County" or "State at Large," until commission expiration.
Alaska- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible. If using an embosser alone as the official seal, the embossment must be inked (seal impression inker). If using an embosser in conjunction with an ink stamp, do NOT ink the embossment. 
Arizona- Ink Stamp Required.  “Dark ink” specified. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with the official ink stamp.
Arkansas- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts.  Must be photographically reproducible.
California- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible.
Colorado- Ink Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts. (For electronic acts, notary's electronic signature is sufficient in lieu of a seal. E-signature must display certain information elements.) Embossers obtained before 8/8/2012 are permitted only until commission expiration; otherwise possession of an embossing seal is prohibited.
Connecticut- Not Required
Delaware- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible; black ink specified.
District of Columbia- Embossing Seal Required. Use of a seal impression inker in conjunction with the embossing seal is REQUIRED (to render seal impression photographically reproducible).
Florida- Ink Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts. The notary ink stamp may be either round or rectangular. An embossing seal may ONLY be used in conjunction with the official notary ink stamp. Seal impression MUST be photographically reproducible. (For electronic acts, notary's electronic signature must include same information elements required for the ink-stamp. See statutes and administrative rules for additional standards.
Georgia- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Hawaii- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Notaries may only obtain either 1 ink stamp or 1 embossing seal, NOT BOTH.
Idaho- Ink Stamp Required
Illinois- Ink Stamp Required.  Must be photographically reproducible; black ink specified.
Indiana- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible.
Iowa- "Official Stamp" Required, Paper and Electronic Notarial Acts. Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts. (Electronic notarial acts must include all information elements of the ink-stamp or embossing seal.)
Kansas- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible.
Kentucky- Not Required
Louisiana- Not Required.  The State of Louisiana considers the notary's signature to be the notarial seal.
Maine- Not Required
Maryland- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Massachusetts- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Black ink specified for stamp.
Michigan- Not Required.  If electing to use an official seal, an ink stamp is acceptable (photographically reproducible). Embossing seal allowed ONLY in conjunction with the ink stamp.
Minnesota- Ink Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts.  Must be photographically reproducible, embosser allowed only in conjunction with ink-stamp.  (Electronic notarial acts must include all information elements of the ink-stamp.)
Mississippi- Ink Stamp Required.  Notary seal image must be sharp, legible, permanent and photographically reproducible. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with the official ink stamp, and only if embossing seal imprint is NOT inked.
Missouri- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible; black ink specified for stamp. If embosser used as official seal, notary must type, stamp or handwrite additional information on every notarial certificate.
Montana- Ink Stamp Required.  Blue or black ink specified.  For new and renewal commissions issued on or after October 1, 2009: Notaries are required to use an ink stamp prescribed by the Secretary of State.
Nebraska- Ink Stamp Required.  Round seals are discouraged by the Secretary of State; the rectangular stamp is "suggested."
Nevada- Ink Stamp Required.  Must be photographically reproducible.
New Hampshire- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
New Jersey- Not Required
New Mexico- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts.  Electronic Seal Required, Electronic Notarial Acts.  (Electronic seal contains information required in the paper-act seal; "generally corresponds to data" in the notary's paper-act seal.)
New York- Not Required
North Carolina- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts. Must be photographically reproducible. Electronic Notary Seal Required, Electronic Notarial Acts. (Electronic seal data contains information required in the paper-act seal; "generally corresponds to data" in the notary's paper-act seal. Physical appearance of the seal replicates the appearance of an inked seal on paper.)
North Dakota- Ink Stamp Required.  Must be photographically reproducible.  Embossers are prohibited.
Ohio- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Oklahoma- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Oregon- "Official Stamp” Required, Paper and Electronic Notarial Acts.  Must be legible (photographically reproducible).  For ink-stamp, permanent ink is specified; black or dark ink recommended.  Embossing seal allowed ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.  Notary may possess more than one stamping device. Ink-stamp impression is no longer filed by the notary with the Secretary of State.  Electronic notaries must report their chosen technology with the Secretary of State.
Pennsylvania- Ink Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts.  Must be photographically reproducible.  Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.  (For electronic acts, notary's electronic signature must include notary's name as commissioned, "Notary Public," notary's municipality and county, and commission expiration date.  Graphic representation of the paper-act seal is not required.)
Rhode Island- Not Required
South Carolina- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Notary must “have” a seal of office, but SC law also allows for omission of the seal on a notarial certificate if the notary’s official title is affixed below his/her signature. Acceptable forms of title:  Notary Public for South Carolina; SC Notary Public;  Notary Public for SC.
South Dakota- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required
Tennessee- Ink Stamp Required.  Any ink color other than black or yellow. Seal impression must be photographically reproducible. The notary seal should contain the notary public's official name as it appears on the commission printed at the top, the county of election printed at the bottom and the words "State of Tennessee Notary Public" or "Tennessee Notary Public" printed in the center.
Texas- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts.  Must be photographically reproducible; indelible ink specified.  (An electronically transmitted authenticated document must legibly reproduce the required elements of the seal.)
(U.S.) Virgin Islands- Embossing Seal Required.  Ink Stamp may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.
Utah- Ink Stamp Required. Ink stamp must contain purple ink.  Must be photographically reproducible. Embossing seal allowed ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp; embossment must NOT be inked.
Vermont- Not Required
Virginia- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts.  Must be photographically reproducible.  (Electronic signature/seal includes image or text with specified information elements that correspond to those in the paper-act seal.)
Washington- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible; indelible (permanent) ink specified.
West Virginia- Ink Stamp Required.  Must be photographically reproducible. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.
Wisconsin- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Notary may utilize both ink stamp and embossing seal if both device imprints are on file with the Department of Financial Institutions, and the notary’s name appears exactly the same on both devices.
     Wyoming- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required.  Must be photographically reproducible.

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http://www.hittmarking.com/category.aspx?categoryID=513

Any questions call 714-979-1405 or email us at Sales@HittMarking.com