NV Notary - Nevada Notary Official Seal and Stamp Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Nevada notary's official stamp has been lost. According to Nevada law, what is the first required action the notary must take?
- Order a new stamp with a different design.
- File a report with the local police department immediately.
- Notify the Secretary of State in writing within 10 days. (Correct answer)
- Inform their employer and bonding company within 24 hours.
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State in writing within 10 days.
Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 240.045) require a notary public to submit a request for an amended certificate of appointment to the Secretary of State within 10 days after their stamp is lost. While filing a police report is a good practice, the legally mandated first step is notifying the Secretary of State.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a required element on a Nevada notary's official stamp?
- The notary's commission number
- The Great Seal of the State of Nevada (Correct answer)
- The phrase "Notary Public, State of Nevada"
- The date the notary's commission expires
Correct answer: The Great Seal of the State of Nevada
Nevada law specifies several required elements for the official stamp, including the notary's name, the phrase 'Notary Public, State of Nevada,' the commission expiration date, and the commission number. The inclusion of the Great Seal of the State of Nevada is permitted but optional.
Question 3: A Nevada notary is presented with a document for notarization. The only available space for the official stamp is partially covering pre-printed text on the document. What is the appropriate course of action?
- Stamp over the text as long as the essential parts of the seal are legible.
- Refuse the notarization as it cannot be completed legally.
- Attach a separate notarial certificate (a loose certificate) to the document. (Correct answer)
- Use an embosser instead of the ink stamp to avoid covering the text.
Correct answer: Attach a separate notarial certificate (a loose certificate) to the document.
Nevada law explicitly prohibits affixing a notary stamp over printed material. In such cases, the correct procedure is to complete and attach a separate paper, known as a loose certificate, which contains the notarial wording and the official stamp.
Question 4: Regarding the physical characteristics of a Nevada notary's official stamp, which of the following statements is correct?
- The stamp must be circular and use black ink only.
- An embossed seal can be used as the primary official seal.
- The stamp must be a rectangle no larger than 1 inch by 2 1/2 inches. (Correct answer)
- The ink color must be either blue or black to be photographically reproducible.
Correct answer: The stamp must be a rectangle no larger than 1 inch by 2 1/2 inches.
According to NRS 240.040, the official notary stamp must be a rectangular shape, with maximum dimensions of 1 inch by 2 1/2 inches. The law does not specify an ink color, only that it must be indelible and photographically reproducible. An embossed seal cannot be used as the primary official seal.
Question 5: A newly commissioned notary works for a company that paid for all their notary supplies, including the official stamp and journal. If the notary leaves this job, who has legal ownership of the official stamp?
- The employer, because they paid for the supplies.
- The Secretary of State, to whom it must be returned.
- The notary public, to whom the commission was issued. (Correct answer)
- The bonding company that issued the notary's surety bond.
Correct answer: The notary public, to whom the commission was issued.
The notary commission is issued to the individual, not the employer. Therefore, the official stamp and journal are the exclusive property of the notary public, regardless of who paid for them. An employer may not keep a notary's stamp or journal upon termination of employment.
Question 6: A notary public who resides in California but is employed in Nevada has obtained a Nevada nonresident notary commission. Which additional piece of information must be included on their official stamp?
- Their California commission number.
- The address of their Nevada employer.
- The word "nonresident." (Correct answer)
- The county where their bond is filed.
Correct answer: The word "nonresident."
Nevada law requires that if a notary public is a resident of an adjoining state, their official stamp must include the word "nonresident" in addition to all other required elements.
NV Notary - Nevada Notary Official Seal and Stamp Questions and Answers 1
A Nevada notary's official stamp has been lost.
According to Nevada law, what is the first required action the notary must take?