IL Notary IL-Notary Official Seal and Stamp Specifications and Security 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Illinois law, which shape is approved for a notary's official seal?
- Circle only
- Rectangle only
- Either a circle or rectangle (Correct answer)
- Any shape chosen by the notary
Correct answer: Either a circle or rectangle
Illinois law permits the official notary seal to be either circular or rectangular in form.
Question 2: What information must appear in an Illinois notary's official seal?
- Name, 'Notary Public', 'State of Illinois', and county of commission (Correct answer)
- Name, license number, and state seal
- Name, commission number, and expiration date only
- Name, employer, and city of practice
Correct answer: Name, 'Notary Public', 'State of Illinois', and county of commission
The Illinois Notary Public Act requires the seal to include the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public', 'State of Illinois', and the county where commissioned.
Question 3: An Illinois notary's employer demands the notary hand over the official seal at the end of each workday. Is this permissible?
- Yes, the employer owns the seal because they paid for it
- No, the seal belongs solely to the notary and must remain in the notary's custody (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if the notary works for a government agency
- Yes, if both parties sign a written agreement
Correct answer: No, the seal belongs solely to the notary and must remain in the notary's custody
The official seal is the property of the notary personally, regardless of who paid for it, and must remain under the notary's exclusive control.
Question 4: Which ink color is most commonly required or recommended for Illinois notary ink stamps to ensure legibility on photocopies?
- Red
- Blue or black (Correct answer)
- Green
- Purple
Correct answer: Blue or black
Blue or black ink is required or recommended so the stamp impression reproduces clearly on photocopies.
Question 5: An Illinois notary moves to a different county but keeps the same seal showing the old county. What should the notary do?
- Continue using the old seal until it wears out
- Obtain a new seal reflecting the current county (Correct answer)
- Cross out the old county and write the new one by hand
- Use the seal only for documents originating in the old county
Correct answer: Obtain a new seal reflecting the current county
The seal must accurately reflect the notary's county of commission, so a move that changes commission county requires a new seal.
Question 6: What is the maximum allowable diameter for a circular Illinois notary seal?
- 1 inch
- 1½ inches
- 2 inches (Correct answer)
- 2½ inches
Correct answer: 2 inches
Illinois law specifies that a circular notary seal may not exceed 2 inches in diameter.
Question 7: Why must an Illinois notary seal impression be reproducible on photocopies?
- To allow the notary to verify their own work
- Because original documents are rarely retained and copies must be legally sufficient (Correct answer)
- To comply with federal postal regulations
- So the notary can charge higher fees
Correct answer: Because original documents are rarely retained and copies must be legally sufficient
Because many documents are retained as photocopies rather than originals, the seal must produce a legible impression that can be reproduced.
IL Notary IL-Notary Official Seal and Stamp Specifications and Security 2
Under Illinois law, which shape is approved for a notary's official seal?