Are notaries required to have a stamp or seal?
Yes, the Iowa Legislature added this requirement during the past session, and it will take effect on January 1, 2002. (A stamp leaves ink marking on paper while a seal leaves a crimped impression in the paper.) For a notary commissioned by the secretary of state, the seal or stamp must include: the words Notarial Seal and Iowa ; the person s name; the words Commission Number followed by the notary s commission number; and the words My Commission Expires followed by the expiration date or a blank line to write in the date. For a public official, the stamp or seal must include the words Notarial Seal and Iowa and the person s name and title under which the person may perform notarial acts.
