It is the responsibility of the notary to obtain and keep an official seal upon being commissioned. The State does
not provide the seal. They may be purchased from most stationery, stamp, or office supply stores.
Montana statute requires the notary’s seal to bear:
- The Notary’s Name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Commission
- The words, State of Montana
- The words, Notarial Seal or Notary Public
The law does not specify the size, shape, or type of seal that is required. A notary may use either a crimper-type
or an ink-type seal; it is a matter of personal preference. Many people prefer the embosser because it looks more
official; however, with the increased use of electronic transmission of documents, the ink-type offers a higher
degree of legibility when documents are faxed or copied frequently.
In addition to the official seal, many notaries choose to have a stamp made which contains most of the
information required below the notary’s signature in a notarial block. This information includes:
- The notary’s printed name
- The title, Notary Public for the State of Montana
- The words, Residing at (the city/town where the notary lives)
- And, My commission expires (the month/day/four digit year)