OR Notary Notary Seal and Journal Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Can an Oregon notary use a rubber stamp as their official seal?
- Yes, a rubber stamp or embossing seal may be used (Correct answer)
- No, only an embossing seal is allowed
- Only electronic notaries may use a stamp
- Only if approved by the county clerk
Correct answer: Yes, a rubber stamp or embossing seal may be used
Oregon allows notaries to use either a rubber ink stamp or an embossing seal as their official notary seal.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the notary seal on a document?
- To authenticate the notarial act and identify the notary (Correct answer)
- To replace the notary's signature
- To indicate the document has been filed with the court
- To show the document has been witnessed by two people
Correct answer: To authenticate the notarial act and identify the notary
The seal authenticates the notarial act and identifies the notary who performed it.
Question 3: Must an Oregon notary include their commission expiration date in their official seal?
- No, the commission expiration date is not required on the seal itself (Correct answer)
- Yes, it must appear prominently on the seal
- Only for electronic notarizations
- Only if required by the document recipient
Correct answer: No, the commission expiration date is not required on the seal itself
Oregon law does not require the commission expiration date to appear on the notary seal itself.
Question 4: If a journal entry is made in error, how should an Oregon notary correct it?
- Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial it (Correct answer)
- Use correction fluid to cover the mistake and rewrite
- Tear out the page and rewrite the entry
- Leave the error and add a note on a separate page
Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial it
Journal errors should be corrected by drawing a single line through the mistake, writing the correct information, and initialing the correction to maintain the integrity of the record.
Question 5: Can an Oregon notary's journal be subpoenaed as evidence in a legal proceeding?
- Yes, a notary journal can be subpoenaed in legal proceedings (Correct answer)
- No, journals are confidential and protected from disclosure
- Only with the notary's written consent
- Only if the notary is a party to the lawsuit
Correct answer: Yes, a notary journal can be subpoenaed in legal proceedings
Notary journals may be subpoenaed because they are official records of notarial acts that may be relevant to legal disputes.
Question 6: What should an Oregon notary do with their journal when their commission expires and is not renewed?
- Deliver the journal to the county clerk or the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Destroy the journal to protect signer privacy
- Keep the journal indefinitely at home
- Submit the journal to the Oregon State Bar
Correct answer: Deliver the journal to the county clerk or the Secretary of State
When a notary's commission ends, journals should be preserved and may be submitted to the county clerk or other designated authority for safekeeping.
OR Notary Notary Seal and Journal Requirements 2
Can an Oregon notary use a rubber stamp as their official seal?