6.1 Notary Stamp Requirements

Notary candidates are often surprised to learn that New York is one of the few states that does not require an official notary seal or stamp. In most states, an embossed or inked seal is the heart of a valid notarization. In New York, the legal force comes from the notary's handwritten signature and the statutory wording that must accompany it. Understanding this distinction — and exactly what information must appear with the signature — is essential, because the exam tests both the no-seal rule and the precise contents of a proper notarial signature block.

No Mandatory Seal in New York

New York law authenticates a notarial act through the notary's signature and the required wording, not through an inked or embossed seal. There is no statutory requirement that a New York notary own or apply a physical stamp. A document is validly notarized when the notary signs it and adds the information required by Executive Law Section 137.

A common misconception — repeated in some outdated study guides — is that the 2023 notary reforms introduced a mandatory stamp. They did not. The January 25, 2023 regulations added a mandatory journal (covered in Section 4.2 and 5.2), but they did not require traditional notaries to use a physical seal. The no-seal rule still sets New York apart.

Example: A title company sends a deed to a New York notary and asks, 'Where's your seal?' The notary correctly explains that New York does not require one. The notary signs, prints 'Notary Public State of New York', the county of qualification, and the expiration date beneath the signature — and the acknowledgment is fully valid, seal or no seal.

What Section 137 Actually Requires

While a seal is optional, the signature information is mandatory. Executive Law Section 137 requires that, in exercising powers, a notary public must print, typewrite, or stamp beneath their signature in black ink the following:

Two special rules round out Section 137:

• New York City notaries: A notary who is also qualified in any of the five New York City counties (New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond) must additionally print the official number or numbers assigned by the county clerk.
• Attorney notaries: An attorney admitted to practice in New York may substitute the words 'Attorney and Counsellor at Law' for 'Notary Public.'

Importantly, Section 137 also states that failure to comply does not, by itself, invalidate the notarial act — but willful non-compliance subjects the notary to disciplinary action by the Secretary of State. So the act is not void for a missing element, yet skipping the wording is still a violation that can lead to discipline.

What a Proper Signature Block Looks Like

Putting it together, a complete New York notarial signature block reads like this:

[Handwritten signature]
John A. Doe
Notary Public State of New York
Qualified in Erie County
No. 01DO1234567   (NYC notaries only)
Commission Expires March 15, 2028

Every element above except the NYC number is required statewide. The handwritten signature is the indispensable core; the printed/typed/stamped lines supply the Section 137 information.

If You Choose to Use a Stamp

Many New York notaries voluntarily buy a rubber stamp because it is faster and more legible than handwriting the same information dozens of times. If you use one, treat it as a convenience that carries the Section 137 information, not as a legal seal. Best practices:

• The stamp must be legible and reproduce the Section 137 elements exactly as on your commission.
• Use black ink to match the statutory wording requirement.
• Never apply the stamp to an incomplete document or to a document you are not actually notarizing.
• Never lend your stamp to anyone — it identifies you personally.
• Stop using and destroy the stamp when your commission ends, so it cannot be misused.

Electronic Notaries Are Different

The no-seal rule applies to traditional notarization. A registered electronic notary must attach an electronic version of their information — effectively an electronic seal containing the same Section 137 elements — to the electronic record, along with a tamper-evident technology. So 'no seal required' is a traditional-notary rule; electronic acts have their own identity-and-seal mechanics under the electronic notarization regulations.

Recap

For the exam: a physical seal is optional in New York, but the signature plus Section 137 information is mandatory. That information is the notary's name, 'Notary Public State of New York', the county of original qualification, and the expiration date — with the county clerk number added for New York City notaries. A stamp, if used, simply carries that same information legibly.