The notary’s seal must be affixed to the certificate to validate the notarial act.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not always
• D. Optional

Answer: (A)

Affixing the notary’s official seal to the certificate is what authenticates the notarization. The certificate is the formal record of the act, and the seal provides the authoritative verification that the notary is properly commissioned and that the act was performed by that notary. Without the seal, the certificate can’t reliably prove the notarial act occurred under a valid authority, which is why the seal is required. In Maryland, the seal (or electronic seal for electronic notarizations) includes the notary’s name, the designation Notary Public, the state, and the commission details, and it must accompany the signature to render the act valid.