Last week I renewed my notary commission, yay! Unfortunately, I forgot to order a new stamp with my updated expiration, and now I’ve got a small signing on the 8th. I won’t get the new stamp in time. Can I use my old stamp, with the old expiration date on it, but add the new expiration date beside it? I won’t cross out anything on the stamp itself, just add the new expiration. Is that the right way to do it? Thanks in advance for any help.
NO, never tamper with details on your notary stamp. Once it expires, you must destroy the old notary stamp. Solution: Ask if you can PAY TO EXPEDITE your new notary stamp. If your new notary stamp does not arrive in time, you will need to alert your hiring company that the signing must be reassigned.
Please let us know who you ordered your stamp from and if they were willing to expedite your order and what it costs. Thanks and good luck!
P.S. Angelique, I found a reputable site (https://www.asnnotary.org) that you can order notary stamps and they can expedite your order! Call 713-644-2299
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Depending on your state and if you are in a good-size city, you might find a shop that can produce it locally quickly.
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Agree with @Carmen_Lane - also, @Angelique, you don’t tell us what state you’re in…some states have certain requirements about how to get stamp (CA comes to mind.). But no, you cannot use your old stamp after your old commission expiration date and you can’t alter it or change it.
If you’re in California, you would have received a certificate of authorization from the Secretary of State. You’d have to mail that to the company you’ve decided to use to make your stamp. You also have to file your bond at the county clerk’s office. If you wait too long, the Secretary of State may have to give you a new issue date.
Now to your question
Last week I renewed my notary commission, yay! Unfortunately, I forgot to order a new stamp with my updated expiration, and now I’ve got a small signing on the 8th. I won’t get the new stamp in time. Can I use my old stamp, with the old expiration date on it, but add the new expiration date beside it? I won’t cross out anything on the stamp itself, just add the new expiration.
Is that the right way to do it?
Nope.
You are officially forbidden to conduct notarizations until you receive your new stamp.
Hi @Angelique, What was the final outcome? Were you able to find a company to expedite your notary stamp replacement or did you have to get signing on April 8th reassigned?
NNA posted an article 10 E&O cases that landed Notaries in court | NNA
And number one on their list is Mistakenly using an EXPIRED notary seal.
A notary who intentionally uses an expired notary seal or tampers with the date on the stamp could be accused of notary fraud. They risk losing their notary commission and civil/criminal penalties. E&O insurance does not protect a notary or signing agent from their deliberate unlawful actions.
By any chance did you take A look at number two on their list I find it interesting because in my state ( DE) we’re not allowed to pick for them either the title would tell us what document or the signer would have to tell us.
#2: Using the wrong notarial certificate
A California Notary used an incorrect notarial certificate, which resulted in the recorder’s office rejecting a deed of trust. The mistake caused recording delays and legal proceedings, in which the Notary testified. Ultimately, the Notary was removed from the case, but not before her attorney fees amounted to $20,000 of her $25,000 E&O policy. Takeaway: Double-check that you are using the correct notarial wording.
Yes, in my state (Washington) we are prohibited from choosing the notarial certificate. They have to instruct us which to use. Or we can offer examples and allow them to choose which one to use. California is very particular in their rules, and I think that is why they used it as an example. We must always follow the notary rules for the state we reside.