New York does not require a notarial seal. That is one of the state’s most memorable notary rules. The booklet says that if a seal is used, it should sufficiently identify the notary public, the notary’s authority, and jurisdiction; in the Department of State’s view, the essential inscription is the notary’s name and the words “Notary Public for the State of New York.”
This makes New York different from states where a seal is mandatory and tightly regulated. In New York, the core legal requirements are more focused on signature, venue, and the statutory statement as to authority under Executive Law §137. The presence or absence of a seal does not change those other obligations.
Practical note: Because the law does not require a seal, the reader should be careful not to assume that a missing seal automatically invalidates a New York notarial act.
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