MD Notary MD Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What information is REQUIRED to appear on a Maryland notary's official seal or stamp?
- The notary's name as commissioned, the state 'Maryland,' and the words 'Notary Public' (Correct answer)
- The notary's name, commission number, and bar license number
- The notary's address, commission expiration date, and county
- The notary's name, employer's name, and 'State of Maryland'
Correct answer: The notary's name as commissioned, the state 'Maryland,' and the words 'Notary Public'
Maryland law requires the notary's commissioned name, 'Maryland,' and 'Notary Public' to appear on the official seal.
Question 2: In what shape must a Maryland notary's official stamp or seal be?
- Any shape that clearly reproduces legibly (Correct answer)
- Circular only
- Rectangular only
- Oval only
Correct answer: Any shape that clearly reproduces legibly
Maryland law does not restrict the shape of the notary seal; any shape that produces a legible impression is acceptable.
Question 3: A Maryland notary's seal impression is smudged and illegible on a document. What should the notary do?
- Re-affix a clear, legible seal impression on the same document (Correct answer)
- Sign the document without a seal as a substitute
- Return the document to the requester and refuse to complete it
- Apply the seal on a separate attached page
Correct answer: Re-affix a clear, legible seal impression on the same document
The notary should apply a clean, legible seal impression because the seal must be clearly reproducible.
Question 4: When a Maryland notary's commission is revoked or expires, what must happen to the notary's official seal?
- The notary must destroy or disable the seal so it cannot be used (Correct answer)
- The seal must be surrendered to the Secretary of State
- The seal may be kept as a personal keepsake
- The seal must be transferred to the notary's employer
Correct answer: The notary must destroy or disable the seal so it cannot be used
Once a commission ends, the notary must destroy or otherwise disable the seal to prevent unauthorized future use.
Question 5: Which color ink is legally required for a Maryland notary's rubber stamp seal?
- No specific ink color is mandated by Maryland law (Correct answer)
- Blue ink only
- Black ink only
- Red ink only
Correct answer: No specific ink color is mandated by Maryland law
Maryland law does not mandate a specific ink color for the notary stamp; legibility is the key requirement.
Question 6: A Maryland notary performs an electronic notarization. What replaces the physical seal?
- An electronic image or seal attached to the electronic document (Correct answer)
- The notary's typed name alone
- A scanned image of the physical seal
- No seal is required for electronic notarizations
Correct answer: An electronic image or seal attached to the electronic document
For electronic notarizations, Maryland requires an electronic seal that is attached to or logically associated with the electronic record.
MD Notary MD Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1
What information is REQUIRED to appear on a Maryland notary's official seal or stamp?