Almost every state requires Notaries to use an official seal when notarizing physical documents. Traditional seals typically come in two formats — ink stamps and embossers. Here’s the difference between ink stamps and embossers and each state’s requirements for the seal you may use. A typical ink stamp and the stamped imprint.Notary ink stamps Ink stamps are the most commonly used type of Notary seal. These rubber Notary stamps leave an inked imprint with Notary information, such as the Notary’s name, commissioning state or date of commission expiration. The official seal imprint’s shape, size and information depend on the laws in the Notary’s commissioning state. Notary embossers Embossers are metal clamping devices. Instead of leaving an ink imprint, a Notary embosser “crimps” a document, creating a raised physical impression displaying Notary information on the paper. A side-by-side comparison of a plain embossed seal impression alongside its inked counterpart.
While visible to the naked eye, the impression made by an embosser won’t be visible on a photocopy unless ink or another method like colored foil is added. Many states that allow Notaries to use an embosser also require making the embossed impression photographically reproducible. As with ink stamps, the shape, size and information needed for an embosser depends on the laws in the Notary’s commissioning state. What about electronic Notary seals? Notarizing electronic documents may require an official electronic seal, which uses technology very different from traditional physical ink stamps and embossers. To find out more about electronic Notary seals and the forms they can take, please read “Understanding Notary technology: eSeals, eSignatures and digital certificates.” Which type of Notary seal can I use? Each state has rules for what type of official seal Notaries must use. Some require ink stamps, some allow using either an embosser or an ink stamp, and a few even make use of an official seal optional. Below, we’ve provided a chart listing traditional Notary seal requirements for each state and the District of Columbia. Traditional Notary seal requirements for U.S. states and D.C. Ink stamp only states States allowing ink stamp or embosser States requiring ink stamp, additional embosser optional No ink stamp or embosser requirement Discover the Notary seal requirements for your state Select Your State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Related Articles: Would you like more information about Notary ink stamps and embossers and how to purchase one? Please visit “Everything You Need to Know About Your Notary Seal Stamp or Seal Embosser.”
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