What should you do with your old notary stamp when your new commission starts?

When your new notary commission starts, the appropriate action regarding your old notary stamp is to destroy it. This ensures that there is no possibility of misuse or confusion about which commission is currently valid. A notary stamp represents the authority granted to you by the state, and using an old stamp could lead to legal issues or authentication problems since it is linked to a commission that has expired.

Destroying the old stamp eliminates any potential for it to be used inappropriately and helps maintain the integrity of notarial acts. Keeping it as a backup or donating it does not align with best practices for notaries, as both options could lead to unauthorized usage. Returning it to the state is not a standard requirement; instead, the responsibility to manage the stamp falls on the notary themselves. Thus, destroying the stamp is the most secure and recommended course of action.