MA Notary Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following pieces of information is required to appear on a Massachusetts notary public's official seal?
- The notary's home address
- The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's license number
- The notary's telephone number
Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date
Massachusetts law requires the notary's official seal to include the commission expiration date, along with the notary's name, 'Notary Public,' and 'Commonwealth of Massachusetts.'
Question 2: Which types of official seals are authorized for use by Massachusetts notaries public?
- Only embosser (raised) seals
- Only rubber ink stamps
- Both embosser seals and rubber ink stamps (Correct answer)
- Only electronic digital seals
Correct answer: Both embosser seals and rubber ink stamps
Massachusetts authorizes notaries to use either a traditional embosser (raised impression) seal or a rubber ink stamp as their official seal.
Question 3: Who bears primary responsibility for the security and safekeeping of a Massachusetts notary's official seal?
- The notary's employer
- The Secretary of the Commonwealth
- The notary public personally (Correct answer)
- The county clerk's office
Correct answer: The notary public personally
The notary public is personally responsible for the safekeeping and security of their official seal to prevent unauthorized use.
Question 4: What must a Massachusetts notary public do if their official seal is lost or stolen?
- Wait to see if it turns up before taking action
- Immediately notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office (Correct answer)
- Continue performing notarial acts until a replacement arrives
- File a report only if a fraudulent act is later discovered
Correct answer: Immediately notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office
A notary whose seal is lost or stolen must promptly notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office to prevent potential fraudulent use.
Question 5: At what point is a Massachusetts notary required to affix their official seal to a document?
- Only on documents involving real estate transactions
- On all completed notarial acts (Correct answer)
- Only when the signer specifically requests it
- Only on documents valued over $1,000
Correct answer: On all completed notarial acts
Massachusetts notaries are required to affix their official seal to all completed notarial acts, regardless of document type or value.
Question 6: What should a Massachusetts notary public do with their official seal when their commission expires?
- Keep it as a personal memento
- Transfer it to the next appointed notary
- Destroy or permanently deface the seal (Correct answer)
- Submit it to the local courthouse
Correct answer: Destroy or permanently deface the seal
When a notary commission expires, the notary should destroy or permanently deface their seal to prevent any future unauthorized or improper use.
Question 7: May a Massachusetts notary public permit another person to use their official notary seal?
- Yes, if the other person is also a commissioned notary
- Yes, with written permission from the Secretary of the Commonwealth
- No, the seal is personal and may only be used by the commissioned notary (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the other person works in the same office
Correct answer: No, the seal is personal and may only be used by the commissioned notary
A notary's official seal is personal to the commissioned individual and may never be used by any other person, even another notary.
MA Notary Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1
Which of the following pieces of information is required to appear on a Massachusetts notary public's official seal?