If a notary's commission becomes void, what must they do with their notary seal?

If a notary's commission becomes void, what must they do with their notary seal?

• A. Return it to the Secretary of State
• B. Destroy it
• C. Keep it for future use
• D. Pass it on to another notary

Answer: (B)

When a notary's commission becomes void, they are required to destroy their notary seal. This is crucial because the notary seal is used to authenticate documents and serve as a representation of the notary's official capacity. If the commission is no longer valid, the seal cannot be used for any official notarial acts, as it could lead to misuse or confusion regarding the status and authority of the notary. Destroying the seal not only removes the risk of the former notary inadvertently using it but also protects the integrity of the notarial process. This ensures that only currently commissioned notaries can perform notarial acts, which is essential for maintaining trust in official documents and processes. Keeping the seal for future use or passing it on to another notary would contravene the procedural safeguards intended to prevent unauthorized notarization.

When a notary's commission becomes void, they are required to destroy their notary seal. This is crucial because the notary seal is used to authenticate documents and serve as a representation of the notary's official capacity. If the commission is no longer valid, the seal cannot be used for any official notarial acts, as it could lead to misuse or confusion regarding the status and authority of the notary.

Destroying the seal not only removes the risk of the former notary inadvertently using it but also protects the integrity of the notarial process. This ensures that only currently commissioned notaries can perform notarial acts, which is essential for maintaining trust in official documents and processes. Keeping the seal for future use or passing it on to another notary would contravene the procedural safeguards intended to prevent unauthorized notarization.