Providing a copy of your notary seal can cost you!
Posted by Patti I have been getting a lot of requests (probably from Signing and Closing Companies) for copies of my seal... I have always thought you were not supposed to use your seal except for official notary business. I have come across the same lame excuses as to why it is ok...so I finally went to the NNA for clarification. Since there is a $1500 penalty for each violation, I thought I would share what I found out.
The following is a partial quotation from the CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC HANDBOOK.
NOTARY PUBLIC SHALL NOT USE THE OFFICIAL SEAL OR THE TITLE NOTARY PUBLIC FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE RENDERING OF NOTARIAL SERVICE.
(Government Code Section 8207)§ 8207.4. Violations; penalties
(a) Any person who willfully violates any part of Section 8207.1, 8207.2, 8207.3, or 8207.4 shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for each violation, which may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney General or the district attorney or city attorney, or by a city prosecutor in any city and county.
(b) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy, and does not affect any other relief or remedy provided by law. (c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
