Written by Acorn Sales Company, manufacturing stamps and seals since 1964 · Reviewed by Molly, VP Marketing at Acorn Sales, against Article 6 of the New York Executive Law, 19 NYCRR Part 182 and the Department of State Notary Public License Law on 20 September 2026 · Updated 20 September 2026
New York does not require a notary seal. What it requires instead is that you print, typewrite or stamp specific information beneath your signature in black ink on every instrument: your name, the words “Notary Public State of New York”, the county where you originally qualified, and your commission expiration date. Section 135's phrase “Every notary public having a seal” confirms the seal is optional. Most New York notaries use a stamp anyway, because it puts all the required elements on the page accurately every time.
New York notary stamp requirements at a glance
| Requirement | New York rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp required | No | N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 137, 135 |
| Required wording | The venue of the act, Your signature, Your name, The words “Notary Public State of New York”, The county in which you originally qualified and Your commission expiration date | N.Y. Exec. Law § 137 |
| Size and shape | Not specified. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 137 |
| Ink color | Black, for the required printed information and for a New York City official number. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 137 |
| Embosser | Not addressed anywhere. | N.Y. Exec. Law art. 6 |
| Commission term | Commissions run four years; reappointment is filed with the county clerk before expiry or within six months after. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 130 |
| Name or address change | Within five days of a change of name, address or email address, send the Secretary of State a notice of the change signed with your official signature. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 130 |
| Lost or stolen stamp | Not addressed, per the same sources. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 131(13) |
| Commissioning authority | The New York Secretary of State, through the Department of State Division of Licensing Services | Article 6 of the New York Executive Law, 19 NYCRR Part 182 |
Rules for other states are on notary stamp requirements by state.
Is a notary stamp required in New York?
No. New York does not require a seal. Instead you must print, typewrite or stamp specific information beneath your signature in black ink on every instrument. That § 135 refers to “Every notary public having a seal” confirms the seal is optional
The governing text is N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 137, 135.
What must appear on a New York notary stamp?
- The venue of the act
- Your signature
- Your name
- The words “Notary Public State of New York”
- The county in which you originally qualified
- Your commission expiration date
Where a certificate of official character is filed, add “Certificate filed ___ County.” A notary who qualified or filed with a county clerk within New York City must also affix the official number assigned by that clerk, in black ink. Rule 19 NYCRR 182.3(a)(4) extends the official-number requirement to any instrument requiring an oath or affirmation, regardless of county. An attorney licensed in New York may substitute “Attorney and Counsellor at Law” for “Notary Public”.
What size and shape must a New York notary stamp be?
Not specified
Notary public stamps are made to these conventions, and we check your lines against the statutory wording before we make the stamp.
What ink color is required for a New York notary stamp?
Black, for the required printed information and for a New York City official number. This is an ink rule for the printed statement, not for a seal.
More on the trade-off in stamp ink color rules.
Is a notary embosser required or optional in New York?
Not addressed anywhere. No mention of embossers appears in Exec. Law §§ 135, 135-c or 137, in 19 NYCRR Part 182, or in the Department of State notary FAQ.
Notary embossing seal kits and inked stamp kits cover both formats. See also notary stamp vs. embosser.
New York has no seal requirement, and never had one
If you have been told to buy a New York notary seal to be compliant, that is not what the law says. Section 137 requires printed information in black ink beneath your signature, not an impression. Section 135’s phrasing gives the game away: it speaks of “Every notary public having a seal”, which only makes sense if some do not.
The 2022 amendment that took effect on 31 January 2023 did not change this. It added electronic and remote notarization and allowed the § 137 statement to be affixed by electronic means. It created no seal requirement.
A stamp is still the easiest way to get all six required elements onto the page accurately every time, which is why most New York notaries use one. Just order it knowing it is a convenience, not a legal obligation.
Do I need a new stamp when my commission is renewed or my name changes?
Commissions run four years; reappointment is filed with the county clerk before expiry or within six months after. Nothing in New York law addresses replacing a stamp, because none is required, but the printed information must stay current.
Within five days of a change of name, address or email address, send the Secretary of State a notice of the change signed with your official signature.
What do I do if my New York notary stamp is lost or stolen?
Not addressed, per the same sources.
How do I dispose of an expired New York notary stamp?
Not addressed. There is no provision on destroying an expired stamp, and no lost-or-stolen reporting duty or deadline. We checked Exec. Law art. 6 §§ 130-137, 19 NYCRR Part 182, the current Notary Public License Law and the Department of State FAQ. The only “lost” provision covers the identification card.
More on retiring an old device in how to dispose of an expired notary stamp.
Can I notarize electronically or remotely in New York?
Authorized since 31 January 2023 under Exec. Law § 135-c and 19 NYCRR Part 182. You must register the electronic-notarization capability separately with the Secretary of State and be physically in New York. The rules impose an electronic signature standard rather than a seal standard: unique to you, attached by digital certificate using public key infrastructure, independently verifiable, under your sole control, and linked so later alterations are detectable. Recordings are kept 10 years. Note that the Department of State operationally expects an electronic seal image even though no rule prescribes its contents.
If you need your seal as an image file for electronic work, see electronic notary seal images.
Related New York guides
- Your Guide to Choosing an Electronic New York Notary Stamp
- How To Put Your New York Notary Supplies To Use
Next step
Have your commission details in front of you before you order, because they go on the stamp and a wrong line means a reorder. Then browse notary public stamps, or call 804-359-0505 and we will check your wording against the statute before we make it.
Frequently asked questions about New York notary seals
Is a notary seal required in New York?
No. New York has no seal requirement. Executive Law § 137 requires you to print, typewrite or stamp specified information beneath your signature in black ink, and § 135's reference to “Every notary public having a seal” only makes sense if some notaries do not have one.
What information must appear beneath my signature in New York?
Your name, the words “Notary Public State of New York”, the name of the county in which you originally qualified, and your commission expiration date, all in black ink. Where required, add the county in which your certificate of official character is filed, using the words “Certificate filed ___ County.”
Does New York require black ink?
Yes, for the printed statement beneath your signature, and for a New York City official number. This is an ink rule for the required information rather than for a seal, since New York does not require a seal.
Do New York City notaries have an extra requirement?
Yes. A notary who qualified or filed with a county clerk within New York City must also affix the official number assigned by that clerk, in black ink. Where the instrument is to be recorded with a register in a New York City county, that register's number must be affixed too. A separate rule extends the official-number requirement to any instrument requiring an oath or affirmation, regardless of the county of qualification.
Why do New York notaries buy a stamp if none is required?
Because a stamp is the most reliable way to get all the required elements onto the page correctly every time. It is a convenience, not a legal obligation, and you should order one knowing the difference.
Does a mistake in the New York notary statement void the notarization?
No. Section 137 states that no official act of a notary public shall be held invalid on account of failure to comply with these provisions. Willful noncompliance is nonetheless grounds for disciplinary action by the Secretary of State, so it is not something to be casual about.
Can I notarize electronically in New York?
Yes, since 31 January 2023, after registering the electronic-notarization capability separately with the Secretary of State and while physically in New York. The rules impose an electronic signature standard rather than a seal standard, and expressly state that a physical or electronic image of a stamp, impression or seal need not accompany an electronic signature.
What do I do if my New York notary stamp is lost or stolen?
Nothing is required by law. New York imposes no disposal duty and no lost-or-stolen reporting duty for a stamp, which follows from the fact that no stamp is required in the first place. Order a replacement and carry on. Do report a change of name, address or email to the Secretary of State within five days.
