GA Notary Seal and Certificate 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which piece of information is required to appear on a Georgia notary public's official seal?
- The notary's social security number
- The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's home address
- The notary's telephone number
Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date
Georgia law requires the notary's commission expiration date to appear on the official seal along with the notary's name, county, and 'Notary Public, State of Georgia.'
Question 2: A Georgia notary uses an embossing (dry) seal on a document without adding ink. Is the notarization valid?
- Yes, an embosser alone is always sufficient in Georgia
- No, a dry embossment must be made visible with ink or another method (Correct answer)
- Yes, as long as the notary signs in blue ink
- No, embossing seals are prohibited in Georgia
Correct answer: No, a dry embossment must be made visible with ink or another method
A dry embossment must be made photographically reproducible, typically by applying ink or another method, because undetectable seals can cause problems with document reproduction.
Question 3: After a Georgia notary's commission expires, the notary continues to use their old seal on documents. This is:
- Permissible if the documents were signed before expiration
- Permissible for 30 days after expiration as a grace period
- A violation because authority to notarize ends at expiration (Correct answer)
- Permissible only for acknowledgments, not jurats
Correct answer: A violation because authority to notarize ends at expiration
A notary's authority ends when their commission expires, and using the seal after that date constitutes unauthorized notarization.
Question 4: A Georgia notary's seal stamp is stolen. What is the appropriate first step?
- Purchase a replacement seal immediately and continue notarizing
- Notify the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county of appointment (Correct answer)
- File a report only if the seal is actually misused
- Notify the Secretary of State within 90 days
Correct answer: Notify the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county of appointment
A notary must promptly notify the Clerk of the Superior Court in their county of appointment when their seal is lost, misplaced, or stolen to protect against unauthorized use.
Question 5: Who is responsible for the physical security of a Georgia notary's official seal?
- The notary's employer, since they paid for it
- Any designated employee in the notary's office
- The notary personally, even if the employer purchased it (Correct answer)
- The Clerk of Superior Court who issued the commission
Correct answer: The notary personally, even if the employer purchased it
The notary is personally responsible for the safekeeping of their seal, regardless of who purchased it or where it is kept.
Question 6: Where is the most appropriate location to affix the official seal on a notarized document?
- At the top of the first page of the document
- Adjacent to or near the notary's signature on the certificate (Correct answer)
- In the margin on every page of the document
- On a separate attestation page only
Correct answer: Adjacent to or near the notary's signature on the certificate
The seal should be placed near the notary's signature on the notarial certificate to clearly associate it with the notarial act.
Question 7: A notary's seal impression on a document is smeared and unreadable. The best course of action is to:
- Sign without a seal since one attempt was made
- Re-apply the seal on or near the original impression to produce a clear image (Correct answer)
- Proceed and attach a note explaining the defective seal
- Cancel the notarization and have the signer return another day
Correct answer: Re-apply the seal on or near the original impression to produce a clear image
If the seal impression is illegible, the notary should apply the seal again in a clear area near the original impression to ensure a legible, official record.
GA Notary Seal and Certificate 2
Which piece of information is required to appear on a Georgia notary public's official seal?