Section 176.520  Description of the Official Seal and Electronic Seal

a)         The reasonably legible imprint of an official seal of a notary public must contain:

1)         A serrated or milled edge border in a rectangular form not more than one inch in height by two and one-half inches in length surrounding the following information in descending order:

A)        The words "Official Seal";

B)        The notary's official name, printed;

C)        The words "Notary Public, State of Illinois";

D)        The words "Commission No." immediately followed by the notary public's commission number; and

E)        The words "My Commission Expires", immediately followed by the notary public's commission expiration date, expressed in terms of the month, one- or two-digit day, and complete year (e.g., January 1, 2024). [5 ILCS 312/3-101(a)]

2)         The imprint of an official seal of a notary public on a tangible record must be an imprint capable of being photocopied or reproduced.

b)         The electronic seal of an electronic notary public on an electronic record must look identical to a traditional notary public seal and be accompanied by the electronic signature of the electronic notary public and language explicitly stating that the electronic notarial act was performed using audio-video communication, if applicable. [5 ILCS 312/3-101(b-5)].

c)         A notary may continue to use any seal in effect before July 1, 2023 through the expiration of the notary's current commission.

d)         If the notary's official seal appears illegible on the document, a notary public may reapply a second, or subsequent, official seal to the document.  Application of a second or subsequent seal must not make any other portion of the document unreadable.

(Source:  Added at 47 Ill. Reg. 8640, effective June 5, 2023)