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The fundamental role of a notary public is to act as a last line of defense against legal document fraud. This is achieved through different notarial acts such as identification verification and signature witnessing.
When a commissioned notary confirms the authenticity of a document and its signer, they notarize it using an official seal. This seal serves as proof that the document has been properly notarized and holds legal validity.
Despite the importance of a notary’s seal, there are many different state laws and statutes that govern them. With no broad certification standards in place, it’s up to the applicant to ensure their seal meets state-specific guidelines.
In this article, we'll describe the stamping requirements for each state and explain where to obtain a state-compliant stamp.
Looking for even more stamp-related information? We’ve written guides that explain the different types of stamps, how to dispose of expired ones and what to do if a stamp is lost or stolen.
States only provide commissions, not stamps or any other necessary supplies. It's up to the individual to find what they need for their commission.
Notaries.com is an authorized notary supply marketplace. We offer stamps that meet all state requirements and include instructions for cleaning and re-inking. All orders are processed quickly, and various shipping methods are used to ensure applicants receive their supplies when needed.
While state regulations vary, most states mandate that seals must include the notary’s name as it appears on their commission.
The other state-specific requirements, in addition to this, are listed below.
To authenticate official acts, each Alabama notary must have a seal of office that shows, by its impression or stamp:
AS 44.50.064 requires commissioned notaries to use an official seal that contains:
A valid notary seal in Arizona must:
The notary seal must use blue or black ink and include the following information:
The seal must be clear, legible and capable of photographic reproduction. When using an embosser, you must use blue or black ink with the embosser to ensure it can be photocopied.
The seal of office may NOT include the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas or the Outline of the State of Arkansas.
Ink stamps must use a rectangular seal with a rectangular outline or border, which may be plain or decorative. Embossers cannot be used. The law does not specify a particular size or ink color.
Inside the border must have:
No other information can be placed within the border or outline.
Connecticut state law does not require that notaries obtain and use a seal or rubber stamp. Even though using a seal is optional, the law does prescribe the seal’s format.
The seal must include:
The words "My Commission Expires (expiration date)" are an optional inclusion.
The seal must:
Seals must use rubber stamps with black ink and include the following:
An impression-type seal (embosser) may be used in addition to the rubber stamp seal, but not by itself.
Each seal in Georgia shall include:
Embossed seals are authorized but not necessary and the use of a rubber stamp is sufficient.
Each notary is required to obtain and constantly keep a rubber stamp seal which must:
Upon resignation, death, or commission expiration, the notary must immediately deliver the notary’s seal to the Attorney General for defacement or destruction.
All notary stamps in Idaho must:
The commission expiration date may also be included.
Notary seals in Illinois are required to:
Indiana notary seals may use a rubber stamp or embosser that must contain the following words:
When a notary quits, their seal should be destroyed or disfigured to prevent fraudulent use.
Notaries commissioned by the Iowa Secretary of State's Office must use a stamp that includes the following words:
Kansas allows rubber or embossed stamps for paper documents.
The seal must include:
The commission expiration date or space for the notary to write this date is optional. The Secretary of State needs a copy or impression of all stamps used during a commission.
An official notary stamp is optional in Kentucky. If used, the seal should be rectangular or circular and include:
Physical stamps are not required in Louisiana, because a notary’s signature is their seal.
The Main Department of the Secretary of State does not require a notary stamp for paper notarizations, but still recommends one. One is required for electronic or remote notarizations, however. An official notary stamp must include:
As of 2020, notaries in Maryland can use an ink stamp, embosser or an electronic seal.
Stamps must include:
A Massachusetts notarial seal or stamp shall use black ink and include:
Michigan notaries must complete notarial certificates for each act performed. Embossed seals or rubber stamps are not required but can make completing these certificates easier.
An official notarial stamp should include
A Mississippi notary’s stamp cannot be a non-inking embosser or crimper and must show the following information in this order:
Official seals shall include the following elements:
A non-inked embossed seal impression may be used with, but not in place of, the official seal.
All Montana notaries are required to use a blue or black ink stamp that creates a rectangular impression approximately one inch by two 1/2 inches in size with a plain, narrow border.
The seal should show the following mandated information:
Nebraska notaries must use an ink stamp seal engraved with:
A notary seal in Nevada must:
All acknowledgments made by a New Hampshire notary shall be under an official seal or rubber stamp.
The stamp needs to include the following information:
New Jersey notary stamps shall:
The New Mexico Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts states that stamps shall:
Notary stamps are not required in New York. Instead, a notary can print, typewrite or stamp the following below their signature:
A North Carolina notary's official seal can be circular or rectangular and include all the following elements:
Circular stamps must be between one ½ inches and two inches. Rectangular ones cannot be over one inch high and two ½ inches long. The seal perimeter needs a border that is visible when impressed.
Notary stamps in North Dakota cannot be manufactured without a certificate of authorization from the Secretary of State.
The stamp must:
Size requirements:
An Ohio notary seal may be inked or embossed and shall display the following:
The notary’s name may, instead of appearing on the seal, be printed, typewritten or stamped in printed letters near the notary public's signature on each notarized document.
Every notary in Oklahoma shall obtain an embossed or rubber ink seal containing:
An Oregon notary’s official stamp must be reasonably legible and contain:
For paper notarizations, a Pennsylvania notary stamp must have a plain border and be no larger than one inch high and three ½ inches wide.
The seal must contain, in the following order:
Notaries may use an embosser in addition to the rubber stamp seal, but not by itself.
Rhode Island notaries must use a round or rectangular stamp that uses dark ink and displays:
The commission ID number and expiration date are optional. An embosser is allowed if it meets the above requirements and is used with a pre-inked seal highlighter to render the impression visible when photocopied.
A notary rubber seal or embosser stamp in South Carolina must include:
The commission expiration date is optional.
South Dakota notaries can use a rubber stamp or embossed seal as long as it contains:
The words “My Commission Expires” cannot be within the seal’s border, but can be written, printed or stamped outside the border.
The design prescribed by the Secretary of State is a circular seal with:
The seal may be imprinted by a stamp (not embosser) in a color (not black or yellow) that is legible and appears black when copied on a non-color copier.
A notary in Texas needs a seal of office that shows, when embossed, stamped or printed on a document:
Utah notaries shall affix their official seal near their signature and shall include a sharp, legible and photographically reproducible image of the official seal that consists of:
An embosser may only be used in addition to an inked scannable stamp.
The official stamp of a Vermont notary shall:
A Virginia notary’s seal/stamp must contain:
The notary cannot strikethrough or white out an area to make a change and the seal must be visible when photocopied.
Notaries in Washington must use a stamp or seal that displays the following:
The physical requirements include:
Notaries in Washington DC must use an inked embosser with a seal that displays:
Note: The seal must be applied directly to the document, not on top of any other item, such as foil.
Once your West Virginia notary application is approved, you must purchase a stamp no larger than 1 inch by two ½ inches that includes the following:
Wisconsin stamps or seals must display:
The commission expiration date is an optional addition.
Notary seals in Wyoming shall:
