Notary Public Notary Seal, Stamp & Certificate Requirements 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A notary's rubber stamp seal is damaged mid-document batch. What is the correct course of action?
- Continue using the damaged stamp and note the damage in the journal
- Stop notarizing and obtain a replacement seal before continuing (Correct answer)
- Use a pen to draw the seal outline manually
- Complete the batch and report the damage to the state at month's end
Correct answer: Stop notarizing and obtain a replacement seal before continuing
A legible, complete seal impression is required on every notarized document, so a damaged seal must be replaced before further notarizations.
Question 2: Which element is NEVER required on a notary seal in any U.S. state?
- Notary's commission number
- State name
- Notary's social security number (Correct answer)
- Notary's name
Correct answer: Notary's social security number
No state requires a notary's Social Security number to appear on the official seal.
Question 3: A signer asks the notary to attach a loose certificate to a document after the original certificate page was lost. What must the notary ensure?
- The loose certificate is stapled securely and describes the document it pertains to (Correct answer)
- The loose certificate is mailed separately to the county clerk
- A new notarization is not needed since the original was valid
- The signer re-signs all pages of the document
Correct answer: The loose certificate is stapled securely and describes the document it pertains to
A loose certificate must be firmly attached and contain sufficient description to identify the document it relates to in order to be valid.
Question 4: In most states, when a notary commission expires, what must happen to the official seal?
- It may be kept as a souvenir
- It must be destroyed or defaced to prevent unauthorized use (Correct answer)
- It should be mailed to the Secretary of State
- It can be used until the replacement seal arrives
Correct answer: It must be destroyed or defaced to prevent unauthorized use
Upon commission expiration, the seal must be destroyed or rendered unusable to prevent fraudulent use by an unauthorized person.
Question 5: A notary certificate states 'subscribed and sworn before me.' What type of notarial act does this language indicate?
- Acknowledgment
- Copy certification
- Jurat (Correct answer)
- Apostille
Correct answer: Jurat
The phrase 'subscribed and sworn before me' is the hallmark wording of a jurat, confirming the signer swore an oath and signed in the notary's presence.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes an embosser seal used without ink?
- It is not acceptable in any state
- It produces a raised impression and is valid only when ink-enhanced in many states (Correct answer)
- It is the most legally preferred seal format nationwide
- It is only valid on electronic documents
Correct answer: It produces a raised impression and is valid only when ink-enhanced in many states
Embosser seals create a raised impression that can be difficult to photocopy, so many states require an ink stamp alongside or ink-enhancement of embossed seals.
Question 7: A notary certificate is completed but the notary forgot to affix the seal. The signer has already left. What should the notary do?
- Affix the seal and re-date the certificate to the current date
- Contact the signer to return so the seal can be affixed in their presence if required by state law (Correct answer)
- Mail the document back to the signer with the seal already applied
- Cross out the certificate and start over remotely
Correct answer: Contact the signer to return so the seal can be affixed in their presence if required by state law
The signer should return so the notary can properly complete the notarization, since affixing the seal after the fact without the signer may invalidate the act depending on state rules.
Notary Public Notary Seal, Stamp & Certificate Requirements 4
A notary's rubber stamp seal is damaged mid-document batch.
What is the correct course of action?