CA Notary Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of seal is a California notary public required to use as their official seal?
- An embosser seal only
- A rubber stamp seal that produces a photographically reproducible impression (Correct answer)
- Either an embosser or rubber stamp at the notary's discretion
- A wax seal with a personalized insignia
Correct answer: A rubber stamp seal that produces a photographically reproducible impression
California law requires notaries to use a rubber stamp seal that produces a photographically reproducible ink impression, ensuring documents can be clearly copied.
Question 2: Which of the following pieces of information is NOT required to appear on a California notary public's official seal?
- The notary's commission expiration date
- The notary's name as it appears on the commission
- The notary's home address (Correct answer)
- The words 'Notary Public' and 'State of California'
Correct answer: The notary's home address
A notary's home address is not required on the seal; the required elements include the notary's name, 'Notary Public,' 'State of California,' county of principal place of business, commission number, and expiration date.
Question 3: The county listed on a California notary public's official seal must be:
- The county where the notary most frequently performs notarizations
- The county listed on the notary's driver's license
- The notary's county of principal place of business as stated on the application (Correct answer)
- Any county in California where the notary is authorized to act
Correct answer: The notary's county of principal place of business as stated on the application
The seal must show the county of the notary's principal place of business as stated on their notary application, which is the county recorded with the Secretary of State.
Question 4: What must a California notary public do if their official seal is lost or stolen?
- Order a replacement seal immediately and continue notarizing
- Notify the Secretary of State and their bonding company in writing immediately (Correct answer)
- Suspend all notarial acts until the commission expires
- File a police report only — no other action is required
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State and their bonding company in writing immediately
When a seal is lost or stolen, the notary must immediately notify the Secretary of State and their surety bonding company in writing to protect against misuse.
Question 5: Under California law, who is authorized to use a notary public's official seal?
- The notary public only, personally (Correct answer)
- The notary public and their supervising employer
- Any licensed California notary public
- The notary public and any employee they designate in writing
Correct answer: The notary public only, personally
Only the commissioned notary public personally may use their official seal; allowing another person to use it constitutes a violation of California notary law.
Question 6: When a California notary public's commission expires or is revoked, what must they do with their official seal?
- Keep it as a personal memento
- Return it to the Secretary of State
- Destroy it so it cannot be misused (Correct answer)
- Transfer it to the county clerk for safekeeping
Correct answer: Destroy it so it cannot be misused
Upon expiration, resignation, or revocation of a commission, the notary must destroy the seal to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent use.
Question 7: A California notary public receives a new commission after renewing. What should they do with their old seal?
- Keep both seals and use whichever is most convenient
- Use the old seal until supplies run out, then switch to the new one
- Destroy the old seal immediately and begin using a new seal reflecting the new commission information (Correct answer)
- Store the old seal securely as a backup in case the new seal is lost
Correct answer: Destroy the old seal immediately and begin using a new seal reflecting the new commission information
The old seal contains the expired commission information and must be destroyed; the notary must obtain and use a new seal reflecting the updated commission number and expiration date.
CA Notary Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1
What type of seal is a California notary public required to use as their official seal?