A notary’s seal and journal should be protected at all costs. The role of a notary is to decrease fraud cases and to help in the fight against identity theft—having a laissez faire attitude to the placement of your seal and journal only increases the chances of theft. Journals often contain sensitive information. If someone grabs your seal, they can begin performing notarizations in your name and you can be held liable.
Mistake happen, and a notary journal or seal can be lost. You should do everything in your power to prevent this, but if it does occur, you should contact the Secretary of State’s office. Below is an excerpt outlining the steps you need to take:
23. What do I do if I lose my seal or notary book?
Every commissioned notary public has a duty to safeguard his/her notary materials. However, if your notary seal or record book has been misplaced or lost, send a letter to this office detailing the circumstances in which the materials went missing, the last time you used it, and any other relevant information. If any of your notary materials have been stolen, you should file a report with your local law enforcement office and enclose a copy of that report with your letter to this office. Send the letter to the Notary Public Unit, P.O. Box 13375, Austin, Texas 78711-3375 or by email.
Remember that you have a duty to record every notarial act in your record book. Therefore, if your notary record book is lost or stolen, you must get a new book before you resume providing notarial services. Similarly, you must get a new seal if your seal is lost or stolen, as notaries are required to affix their seals to all official acts they perform.
A notary’s seal and journal should be protected at all costs. The role of a notary is to decrease fraud cases and to help in the fight against identity theft—having a laissez faire attitude to the placement of your seal and journal only increases the chances of theft. Journals often contain sensitive information. If someone grabs your seal, they can begin performing notarizations in your name and you can be held liable.
Mistake happen, and a notary journal or seal can be lost. You should do everything in your power to prevent this, but if it does occur, you should contact the Secretary of State’s office. Below is an excerpt outlining the steps you need to take:
23. What do I do if I lose my seal or notary book?
Every commissioned notary public has a duty to safeguard his/her notary materials. However, if your notary seal or record book has been misplaced or lost, send a letter to this office detailing the circumstances in which the materials went missing, the last time you used it, and any other relevant information. If any of your notary materials have been stolen, you should file a report with your local law enforcement office and enclose a copy of that report with your letter to this office. Send the letter to the Notary Public Unit, P.O. Box 13375, Austin, Texas 78711-3375 or by email.
Remember that you have a duty to record every notarial act in your record book. Therefore, if your notary record book is lost or stolen, you must get a new book before you resume providing notarial services. Similarly, you must get a new seal if your seal is lost or stolen, as notaries are required to affix their seals to all official acts they perform.