Section 17-2404. SIGNATURES AND SEALS

 

2404.1Each notary public commissioned in the District shall file his or her official signature and an impression of his or her official seal with ONCA.

 

2404.2A notary shall keep an official seal that is the exclusive property of the notary. When not in use, the seal shall be kept secure and accessible only to the notary. In addition:

 

(a)A business notary who no longer is employed by that business may take his or her commission with him or her upon the approval of the business.  If the business does not consent to the continuation of the commission, the commission shall be terminated.

 

(b)Upon termination of a commission, a notary shall return the notary seal to ONCA.

 

2404.3The seal shall not be possessed or used by any other person, nor be used for any purpose other than performing lawful notarizations. 

 

2404.4An official notary seal shall include the following elements:

 

(a) The notary’s name at the top, exactly as indicated on the commission;

 

(b) The words “Notary Public” in the center

 

(c) The words “District of Columbia” at the bottom

 

(d) The expiration date in the center

 

(e)  A border in a circular shape no larger than one and three-quarters inches (1.75 in.) surrounding the required words.

 

2404.5A notary public shall affix his or her official signature and official seal on every document notarized, at the time the notarial act is performed. 

 

2404.6A seal impression inker shall be used in conjunction with the official seal, making the impression legible, permanent, and photographically reproducible.

 

2404.7In the case that the document being notarized is made of a non-porous material, such as Mylar or a similar material to which standard ink will not adhere, an embossed seal shall be used alone or in conjunction with a non-porous, permanent ink that dries through evaporation, which will adhere without smearing.

 

2404.8Notaries public commissioned prior to December 15, 2010, may use an official seal that does not comply with Subsection 2404.4 provided that seal is made visible with a seal impression inker and coupled with an expiration stamp on all notarizations.

 

2404.9 Notaries public commissioned on or after December 15, 2010, must obtain a seal impression inker that complies with Subsection 2404.4 upon being newly- or re-appointed.

 

authority

Section 558 of An Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (31 Stat. 1189, ch. 854, § 558; D.C. Official Code §§ 1-1201 et seq. (2012 Repl.)), as amended by An Act to authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to appoint notaries public, approved December 16, 1944 (58 Stat. 810, ch. 597, § 1); Regulation No. 73-13, approved May 24, 1973 (19 DCR 1147 (June 11, 1973)); the Notaries Public Fees Increase Act of 1983, effective June 22, 1983 (D.C. Law 5-14; 30 DCR 2632 (June 3, 1983)); the Notaries Public Fee Act of 1983, effective March 8, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-52; 30 DCR 5931 (November 18, 1983)); the Notaries Public Authentications and License Fee Amendment Act of 2010, effective September 24, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-223; 57 DCR 6242 (July 23, 2010)); Section 3(k) of Mayor’s Order 97-177, dated October 9, 1997; and Mayor’s Order 2016-031, dated March 1, 2016.

source

§ 1.6 of Regulation No. 73-13, approved May 24, 1973, published at 19 DCR 1147, 1148 (June 11, 1973); as published in 25 DCRR § 1.6; as amended by Final Rulemaking 57 DCR 11739 (December 10, 2010); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 9099 (July 1, 2016).