Hi everyone,
I just did a signing where there was a document called a ‘Correction Agreement Limited Power of Attorney’ that required notarizing and was worded like an acknowledgement. There was plenty of space for my official notary stamp on the left next to where I signed my name above the words ‘notary public’ but there wasn’t anything typed to say I should use my stamp/seal. All the other documents I notarized always had ‘seal’ or something typed in this space to indicate I should use my stamp. My question is: do you always use your stamp/seal for an acknowledgement (and a jurat for that matter) or only when you see the words ‘seal’ or some other clear indication that your stamp is needed?
Dan…where are you located?
Hi Linda,
I’m in Missouri…
best
Danny
Okay…I ask because some states don’t require a seal at all - the notary’s signature is their seal.
Yes, I always affix a seal - no matter what little words are on that document. It’s required here in Florida. I see in MO you can use an embosser OR a seal…but you MUST use one or the other. (page 24 of your handbook).
You should not need something typed telling you to use it - it’s part of your notary law. You must use either/or…
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Thanks Linda! That answers it for me.
best
Danny
The term “seal” in your case means signature, not a notary stamp. You may also see this term for borrower’s signature on the Note and/or the Deed of Trust/Mortgage.
thanks for the clarification John.
best
Danny
Anytime you are notarizing a document you MUST both sign the certificate and apply your stamp to the certificate. If you don’t, the certificate will be invalid and will need to be redone at some point in time.
The word Seal is often used and can be found at the end of the signature lines. This goes back centuries when by applying signatures to documents the signers were “sealing in their promise that they were telling the truth”. For some reason the word “seal” is still applied to the end of the signature lines on many documents and has nothing to do with our notary stamp or seal.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you will occasionally get a document which will require both your signature and your stamp and no one signs the document but yourself. This is Illegal! You CANNOT AND MUST NOT stamp any document unless it is for the purposed of acknowledging someone else’s signature. If a company asks you to do this you can state on the document that you cannot stamp it and to do so is illegal.
Not necessarily so Carol - as I stated, some states do not require a seal - CT being one.
Further “you will occasionally get a document which will require both your signature and your stamp and no one signs the document but yourself. This is Illegal! You CANNOT AND MUST NOT stamp any document unless it is for the purposed of acknowledging someone else’s signature.”
Again, not necessarily so - there are some acts in some states where only the notary signs the cert and the stamp is required - here in FL I’ll point to Certified Copies, VIN Verification, and Safe Deposit Box Inventory You may be referring to that company who wants us to sign and stamp the ID form without the signature…and yes, I’d agree with you on that point.
It is all very state-specific and can vary widely from state to state… MO, where the OP is from, has specific wording in their regulations - they MUST use a seal OR embosser.
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Thank you Linda H., I just saw this posting and was not aware that CT does not require a seal. That is why I am so adamant that all of my students MUST know the Rules and Regulations of their state. They vary so much between states. So I stand corrected and again than you for correcting me.
The comment about always having to have someone else sign before you can notarize the document is not true in all states. Some states allow notaries to note a protest, but that’s so archaic we can just ignore it. Many states allow a notary to certify a copy; there is no one else who needs to sign if the notary is certifying a copy.
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