2.Notary Seal

ALL ELEMENTS OF THE SEAL IMPRESSION MUST BE CLEAR

IF THE SEAL IMPRESSION IS INSUFFICIENT OR UPSIDE DOWN, THE NOTARY MUST RESTAMP THE DOCUMENT NEAR THE ORIGINAL SEAL IMPRESSION.

DO NOT LINE-OUT, MARK-THROUGH OR WHITE-OUT THE ORIGINAL SEAL IMPRESSION.

REMEMBER

A NOTARY PUBLIC SHALL NOT USE THE OFFICIAL SEAL EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE

PLACEMENT OF THE NOTARY SEAL IMPRESSION ON THE DOCUMENT

1. The seal impression must always appear next to or near the notaries signature.

2. The seal impression and the notaries signature must always appear next to or near the notarial instructions printed or attached to the document.

3. The seal impression, notaries signature and instructions to the notary must always appear on the same page on the document.

4. The seal impression should not be placed over signatures or any printed matter on the document.

5. The notary must stamp an impression of the official seal of the notary upon every notarized document.

WHEN THE NOTARY RECEIVES AN OFFICIAL SEAL, THE NOTARY MUST BE CERTAIN THAT ALL THE INFORMATION IMPRINTED UPON THE SEAL IS TRUE AND CORRECT PRIOR TO USING OR NOTARIZING ANY DOCUMENT WITH THE SEAL.

1.1. The law makes it clear that a person who solicits, or influences a notary public to improperly maintain the notary public’s journal is guilty of a misdemeanor.

2.2. The law makes a notary public guilty of a misdemeanor if the notary public:

a.) Willfully fails to properly maintain his or her journal.

b.) Willfully fails to notify the Secretary of State if his or her notarial journal is lost, stolen, rendered unusable or surrendered to a peace officer.

c.) Willfully fails to permit a lawful inspection or copying of his or her notarial journal; OR

d.) Willfully fails to keep his or her notarial seal under direct and exclusive control; OR

e.) Willfully surrenders his or her notarial seal to any person not authorized to possess it.

f.) Willful failure to report the theft or loss of a journal is now expressly stated as grounds for revocation or suspension of a notary public.

g.) willful failure to provide access to a journal when requested by a police officer is now grounds for revocation or suspension.

h.) Willfully destroying, defacing, or concealing records belonging to a notary public now has a four-year statute of limitations. The criminal penalty is not the exclusive relief or remedy provided by law.