42.44.090 - Form of certificate -- General -- Seal or stamp as exclusive property.

Form of certificate — General — Seal or stamp as exclusive property.

(1) A notarial act by a notary public must be evidenced by a certificate signed and dated by a notary public. The certificate must include the name of the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed and the title of the notary public or other notarial officer and shall be accompanied by an impression of the official seal or stamp. It shall not be necessary for a notary public in certifying an oath to be used in any of the courts in this state, to append an impression of the official seal or stamp. If the notarial officer is a notary public, the certificate shall also indicate the date of expiration of such notary public's appointment, but omission of that information may subsequently be corrected.

     (2) A certificate of a notarial act is sufficient if it meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section and it:

     (a) Is in the short form set forth in RCW 42.44.100;

     (b) Is in a form otherwise permitted or prescribed by the laws of this state;

     (c) Is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the notarial act was performed; or

     (d) Is in a form that sets forth the actions of the notary public and the described actions are sufficient to meet the requirements of the designated notarial act.

     If any law of this state specifically requires a certificate in a form other than that set forth in RCW 42.44.100 in connection with a form of document or transaction, the certificate required by such law shall be used for such document or transaction.

     (3) By executing a certificate of a notarial act, the notary public certifies that he or she has made the determinations required by RCW 42.44.080.

     (4) A notary public's seal or stamp shall be the exclusive property of the notary public, shall not be used by any other person, and shall not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment, regardless of whether the employer paid for the seal or for the notary's bond or appointment fees.

[1985 c 156 § 9.]