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)