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You want to see my WHAT?!: improper use of the notary seal

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Mobile Notary Services

People often wonder how notary signing agents find work.  One of the ways is by signing up with signing services.

There is usually a contract that the notary signing agent has to sign.  And there may be some documents that have to be submitted as well.  The purpose of these documents are to prove that the notary signing agent has a valid notary commission, they have E&O insurance, ... etc.

And one other thing: your notary seal

Not all companies require this, but there are some.  I recently signed up with a company that requested it:

notary stamp and seal request

I provided everything else ... except an impression from my notary seal.

The notary seal is not something to be taken lightly.  The only time it is to be used is at the time of notarization.  When I re-ink my seal is the only exception.

I politely told the company that I cannot provide them with an impression from my notary seal.  They still accepted my application.  A company cannot make a notary do anything that is against the law.  I can't understand why a company would want to have an impression of the notary's seal in the first place.  They are already requesting a copy of the notary certificate.

The use of the seal is covered in the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS 12-55-112).

There is also an article regarding this in the March/April 2006 issue of The Notary, published by the Notary Law Institute.  The title of the article is: Things the Courts Call Big "No No's"

"2. Never affix your seal to any paper without there first being notarial certificate wording theron, or it is considered an abuse of your notarial authority. ..."

notary sealI will be glad to send any company a photo of my notary seal.  But never an impression from it.

 

Comments (2)

Tony Grego, 317-663-4173 #1 Trade Association for Alternative Inv
REISA - 317-663-4173 - Indianapolis, IN

Thanks for the lesson. I did not know all that went into it.

Have a great day

Tony

Jan 25, 2009 12:06 AM
Joan Bergstrom
Joan Bergstrom Mobile Notary - Riverside, CA
Mobile Notary, Riverside CA

CA law states that we can only use our Notary seal or the title for anything other than the rendering of notarial services.

Jan 25, 2009 04:15 PM