Notary Seal and Certificate Requirements Flashcards

What information is required on a Minnesota notary's official stamp or seal?

Answer: Notary's name, 'State of Minnesota,' and commission expiration date

Minnesota law requires the official stamp to include the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public,' 'State of Minnesota,' and the commission expiration date.

In Minnesota, what shape must the official notary stamp be?

Answer: Rectangular or circular

Minnesota law allows the official notary stamp to be either rectangular or circular in shape.

What should a Minnesota notary do if their official stamp is lost or stolen?

Answer: Notify the Secretary of State and stop using the stamp immediately

A lost or stolen notary stamp must be reported to the Minnesota Secretary of State promptly, and the notary should cease using any stamp until a replacement is obtained.

Under Minnesota law, may a notary use an embossing seal as their official seal?

Answer: No, an embossing seal alone is insufficient — a stamp with legible ink must be used

Minnesota requires that notarial certificates include a legible inked stamp; an embossing seal alone does not produce a reproducible image and is insufficient.

Who owns a Minnesota notary's official stamp?

Answer: The notary personally owns and controls the stamp

The official notary stamp belongs to the individual notary, even if their employer purchased it, and the notary is solely responsible for its use and safekeeping.

What happens to a Minnesota notary's official stamp when the commission expires?

Answer: The notary must destroy or render the stamp unusable

Upon expiration of a commission, Minnesota notaries should destroy or deface their official stamp to prevent unauthorized future use.