FL Notary Notary Seal and Journal Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What shape must a Florida notary's official seal be?
- Circular only
- Rectangular only
- Circular or rectangular (Correct answer)
- Any shape the notary chooses
Correct answer: Circular or rectangular
Florida law requires a notary's official seal to be either circular (with a diameter of 1.5–2 inches) or rectangular (no larger than 1×2.5 inches).
Question 2: What information is REQUIRED to appear on a Florida notary's official seal?
- The notary's name, the words 'Notary Public State of Florida,' and commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's name, address, and phone number
- The notary's name, county of residence, and bar number
- The notary's name, commission number, and employer
Correct answer: The notary's name, the words 'Notary Public State of Florida,' and commission expiration date
A Florida notary seal must display the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public State of Florida,' and the commission expiration date.
Question 3: A Florida notary's seal impression must be what color when affixed to paper documents?
- Blue ink only
- Red ink only
- Black or blue ink that is photographically reproducible (Correct answer)
- Any color is acceptable
Correct answer: Black or blue ink that is photographically reproducible
Florida law requires the notary seal ink to be photographically reproducible, which typically means black or blue ink, to ensure the seal appears clearly in copies.
Question 4: What must a Florida notary do if their official seal is lost or stolen?
- Order a replacement seal immediately without reporting
- Notify the Department of State in writing and disable the lost seal (Correct answer)
- Contact local law enforcement and the Governor's office
- Continue using a backup seal while waiting for a replacement
Correct answer: Notify the Department of State in writing and disable the lost seal
If a notary's seal is lost or stolen, they must notify the Department of State and should take steps to prevent unauthorized use of the lost seal.
Question 5: Is a Florida notary required by law to keep a notarial journal?
- Yes, all notarial acts must be recorded in a journal
- No, a journal is optional but recommended (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only for real estate transactions
- Only notaries who perform RON are required to keep a journal
Correct answer: No, a journal is optional but recommended
Florida law does not require traditional notaries to keep a journal, though it is highly recommended as a best practice and is required for Remote Online Notarization (RON).
Question 6: What should a Florida notary do with their seal when their commission expires or is revoked?
- Store it indefinitely as a historical record
- Destroy the seal to prevent unauthorized use (Correct answer)
- Return it to the Department of State
- Transfer it to the next notary in their office
Correct answer: Destroy the seal to prevent unauthorized use
Upon expiration or revocation of a commission, a notary should destroy their official seal to prevent its unauthorized use after their authority has ended.
FL Notary Notary Seal and Journal Requirements 1
What shape must a Florida notary's official seal be?