When does a notary embossing seal belong on an official legal document?

A notary embossing seal belongs on an official legal document when your state allows or requires one: in most states the inked stamp is the official seal and an Acorn Sales embosser, from $29.95, adds a raised impression beside it, while Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands expect both devices and Colorado and Hawaii prohibit the embosser.

• Embosser as the seal. Ohio permits an embosser outright as an alternative to the stamp, New Jersey lets the seal be affixed to or embossed on the certificate, and Indiana lets you affix, display or emboss it.
• Embosser only beside a stamp. Florida, Pennsylvania and Oregon require the inked rubber stamp and allow an embosser only alongside it.
• Embosser with an inker. The District of Columbia builds its seal rules around an embossing sealer used together with an inker.
• Copies and scans. A plain raised impression does not photocopy, scan or e-record, so a document headed for recording or email also needs your inked seal from notary public stamps or an impression darkened with the $15.95 Notary Seal Impression Inker.
• When the law leaves it optional. The office or party receiving the document decides whether it wants a raised seal, so ask before the appointment.
• Check your state first. Each state's device rule is listed in notary stamp requirements by state, and the trade-offs are compared in notary stamp vs. embosser.

Which notary embosser style fits the way you work?

Pick a notary embosser by where you notarize and how much you press: Acorn Sales handheld, soft seal and hybrid embossers cost $29.95 to $34.95 for travel, the desk model $39.95 for one office, and gift, long reach, cast iron and electric embossers $99.95 to $2,095.00 for display or heavier workloads.

• Handheld, $29.95. The Handheld Notary Seal Embosser is the most compact, with a heavy duty frame and a sliding lock that keeps it closed in a purse or briefcase.
• Soft seal, $34.95. The Soft Seal Notary Embosser adds rubber to the handle so it is easier to hold and squeeze, and it also comes in blue, pink and red.
• Hybrid, $34.95. The Black Hybrid Notary Embosser and Pink Hybrid Notary Embosser carry like a handheld but press with the ease of a desk model, click when the impression is complete, and have positioning marks for alignment.
• Desk, $39.95. The Desk Notary Seal Embosser stands on the desk, takes less effort than a handheld, and slides locked for storage.
• Long reach, $129.95 and $169.95. The Long Reach Notary Seal Embosser seals about 2-1/2 inches into a sheet, and the Extended Long Reach Notary Seal Embosser reaches 4-1/2 inches, the center of an 8-1/2 inch page, with an adjustable paper guide.
• Gift embossers, $99.95 to $109.95. Gold, chrome, black and pink gift models rest on a felt base that stops them slipping, and the Gold Gift Notary Seal Embosser has a polished gold finish for a desk on display.
• Cast iron, $329.95. The Cast Iron Notary Seal Embosser has an old-fashioned look and reaches 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches into the paper.
• Electric, $1,795.00 and $2,095.00. The Notary Heavy Duty Standard Reach Electric Embosser seals at the touch of a button about 2-3/8 inches from the edge and has an estimated life of over 200,000 impressions.

Which embosser should a mobile loan signing agent carry?

A mobile loan signing agent is best served by a handheld or hybrid embosser: the $29.95 Acorn Sales Handheld Notary Seal Embosser is the smallest to carry, and the $34.95 hybrid gives close to desk-model ease in a bag-sized frame.

• Smallest to carry. The handheld model's compact design fits a briefcase or bag, and its sliding lock keeps the jaws shut between signings.
• Less squeeze per page. Hybrid embossers reduce the force a full impression needs and click when it is done, which helps on a long loan package.
• Steadier grip. Soft seal models add rubber to the handle for a firmer hold.
• A case for the bag. Keep a handheld or soft seal in the $4.95 Notary Pocket Seal Storage Box or the $5.95 Deluxe Leatherette Pouch from notary supplies.
• Bring the inked seal too. Since a raised impression does not show on a scan, carry your inked seal stamp for any page that will be copied or e-recorded.
• A ready travel set. The $52.95 Deluxe Handheld Seal Package with Hand Stamps adds a record book and one supplemental stamp to the handheld embosser.

How do you use a notary embossing seal correctly?

To use an Acorn Sales notary embossing seal, release its lock, slide the page in so the seal lands clear of signatures and printed text, and squeeze once, firmly and fully, before you release.

• Plan the spot. Choose a place near your signature on the notarial certificate where the raised seal will not run through signatures or printed words.
• Square the paper. The impression reads the way the die was engraved, so set the page straight against the embosser; each embosser listing shows an orientation example.
• Use the guides. Line the page up with the positioning marks on a hybrid embosser or the adjustable paper guide on the Extended Long Reach model.
• One full press. Bring the handle all the way down in one motion rather than pumping it; a hybrid clicks when the impression is complete.
• Clear the jaws. Take staples and paper clips out of the seal area before you press.

How do you store and maintain a notary embosser?

A notary embosser needs no ink and very little upkeep: lock it closed, keep it dry and protected from drops, and an Acorn Sales embossing seal lasts indefinitely with proper care.

• Lock it for storage. Handheld, soft seal, desk and long reach models have a sliding lock; engage it before the embosser goes into a drawer or bag.
• Protect the frame. Carry a portable embosser in its case rather than loose, where heavier items can bend the handle or push the jaws out of line.
• Watch the impression. If the seal starts printing unevenly or only in part, check the jaws for paper scraps or grit, and contact us if the frame or die looks damaged.
• Keep it secure. Store the embosser where only you can reach it, since its die carries your name and commission details.

How do you order a custom notary embosser online?

Order an Acorn Sales notary embosser by choosing a model, selecting the state that commissioned you and entering your details exactly as your commission certificate shows them; each custom engraved die is laid out to that state's rules and processed in about one business day.

• Pick a seal style. Embosser dies come in four layouts: name only, with expiration date, with commission number, or with both, where your state allows the extra details.
• Include what your state requires. Your name as commissioned plus any county, commission number or expiration date your state's layout calls for; notary stamp requirements by state lists them.
• Proof before production. Request a PDF proof through contact us and check every letter and digit against your certificate before you approve it.
• Fixing a mistake. Write to us through the contact form as soon as you spot an error, since personalized seals are made to order and cannot be returned.
• More than one commission. Each die is engraved to one state's layout, so a notary commissioned in two states orders an embosser for each.
• A gift for a new notary. Gift embossers and Deluxe or Supreme packages are made from the new notary's own commission details, so collect those before you order.

Want everything in one box? Deluxe embosser packages from $52.95 add a record book and one supplemental stamp, and the $99.95 Supreme Handheld Seal Package with Hand Stamps adds a stamp of your seal, three supplemental stamps, a pack of gold foil seals and a notary decal. Stamp-only sets are in notary inked stamp kits.