How should a Maryland notary handle a lost or damaged seal?

• A. Resume notarizing after a temporary seal is issued.
• B. Continue notarizing but with a missing seal.
• C. File a claim with the notary's insurance.
• D. Report to the appropriate authority and obtain replacement seal before resuming notarial acts.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that the notary seal is an essential part of every notarization. If the seal is lost or damaged, you cannot continue notarizing until you have a replacement, because the seal authenticates the notarial act and its absence could cast doubt on any documents you’ve already signed or may sign in the future.

When this happens, you must stop notarial work and report the loss to the appropriate authority—the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county or city that issued your commission. You’ll follow their procedure to obtain a replacement seal before resuming any notarial acts. This ensures there is a valid, verifiable seal on future notarizations and maintains the integrity of the notarial recordkeeping.

Temporary measures, continued notarizing without a seal, or pursuing insurance are not appropriate remedies for this situation. The proper process is to notify the issuing authority and obtain a replacement seal before you resume notarial duties.