Q. Are Notaries Public required to maintain embossing seals or stamps?

A. No. It is optional for Notaries Public in the State of Maine to own or use an embossing seal or a stamp with their name and expiration date.

Q. If a Notary Public wishes to own and use an embossing seal, are there any special rules for this seal?
A. Yes. An embossing seal must be engraved with the Notary Public's name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Office, which is the way the Notary Public must always sign documents. The seal must also have the words "Notary Public"; and contain either the words "Maine" or "ME." or the Great Seal of the State of Maine. Please keep in mind that using an embossing seal does not eliminate the other requirements for a proper notarization such as a statement of what the Notary Public has done (an acknowledgment or Jurat statement), the official signature of the Notary Public, the commission expiration date and the date when the notarization was performed.

An embossing seal may be purchased from a local stationery store, office supply store or a printing shop. It is both the option and the responsibility of the Notary Public to purchase the embossing seal because the State of Maine does not supply it.