Georgia Notary Seal Requirements

You've taken the oath, paid your county filing fee, and walked out of the clerk's office with an active commission. But you can't notarize a single document until you have a compliant official seal — and Georgia's requirements for what that seal must contain are specific enough that ordering the wrong one means paying twice.

Here's exactly what Georgia law requires and how to get it right the first time.

What Must Appear on Your Georgia Notary Seal

Under O.C.G.A. Title 45, Chapter 17, every Georgia notary seal must display:

• Your full commissioned name, exactly as it appears on your commission certificate
• The words "Notary Public"
• Your commissioning county
• "Georgia" or "GA"

An expiration date is not a statutory requirement, though including it is recommended for documents sent out of state.

The name match is non-negotiable. If your commission reads "Jennifer L. Martinez" and your seal says "Jennifer Martinez," any notarization you perform with that seal is potentially challengeable. Order the seal after you receive your commission certificate so you can copy the name exactly.

Rubber Stamp vs. Embosser

Georgia accepts both formats. Each has practical trade-offs:

Rubber ink stamp — Produces a clear, dark impression that scans and photocopies well. This is the more practical choice for anyone notarizing documents that will be digitized, faxed, or filed electronically. Prices range from $15 to $30 from online vendors.

Metal embosser — Creates a raised impression without ink. Embossers have a more formal appearance and can't be easily photocopied, which some people consider a security advantage. However, embossed impressions can be difficult to read on scanned documents and may not satisfy county clerks who need a legible seal on filed paperwork. Embossers typically cost $20 to $40.

Which should you choose? Most Georgia notaries go with a rubber stamp for everyday use because of readability. If you notarize high-value documents like real estate deeds, some attorneys prefer to see both — a rubber stamp for legibility plus an embosser as a tamper-evident second impression. Georgia law doesn't require both; this is a professional preference, not a legal mandate.

Where to Buy Georgia Notary Supplies

You have two main options:

Online notary supply vendors — Companies like stamps.com, notarystamps.com, and similar retailers sell Georgia-compliant seals for $15 to $30 with shipping in three to five business days. When ordering, you'll enter your exact commissioned name and county; include an expiration date only if you choose to add one. The vendor formats the seal to meet Georgia's statutory requirements.

Local office supply stores — Some local print shops and office supply retailers can produce notary stamps, but availability varies. Turnaround is often faster (same day or next day) but prices tend to run higher.

Skip the expensive bundles. National notary associations sell "starter kits" and "all-inclusive packages" ranging from $75 to $265. These typically bundle a seal with items you don't need — like a $10,000 surety bond (Georgia doesn't require one) or a membership card that carries no legal weight. You can assemble everything you need for $15 to $50 by purchasing items individually.

The Notary Journal Question

Georgia didn't historically require notaries to keep a journal. That changed with House Bill 1292, effective January 1, 2025, which mandates journal-keeping for a specific scenario: notarizing real estate documents presented by a "self-filer."

A self-filer is someone filing their own deed, mortgage, lien, or other real property instrument who isn't represented by an active Georgia attorney, licensed title insurance agent, licensed real estate professional, agent of a federally insured bank or credit union, agent of a licensed or exempt mortgage lender or servicer, public official acting in official duties, or licensed professional land surveyor.

If you'll be notarizing real estate documents presented by self-filers — even occasionally — having a bound notary journal is now essential. A basic bound journal costs $10 to $20. The journal must capture eight specific data points for each self-filer transaction, including the filer's name, address, phone number, ID details, and signature.

If you exclusively notarize non-real-estate documents (affidavits, powers of attorney, corporate minutes), the journal requirement doesn't apply. Many notaries keep one anyway as a liability shield.

What to Do if Your Seal Is Lost or Stolen

Georgia law requires you to notify both the Clerk of Superior Court in your commissioning county and the GSCCCA in writing within 10 days of discovering that your seal is lost, misplaced, or stolen. This isn't optional — report the missing seal promptly and do not use it.

After reporting, order a replacement seal immediately. Your commission remains active; you just can't perform notarizations until the new seal arrives.

If you change your name, follow the clerk's instructions and obtain an updated seal before performing under the new name. If you include an expiration date and your commission is renewed, update that date; an expiration date is not a statutory seal requirement.

Electronic Seals for IPEN

If you plan to perform In-Person Electronic Notarizations (IPEN), you'll need a digital version of your seal in addition to (or instead of) a physical one. Georgia authorizes IPEN under O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8.1, which means you can notarize digital documents with an electronic seal and electronic signatures — as long as the signer is physically present.

An electronic seal is typically a high-resolution image file (PNG or PDF) containing all the same elements as your physical seal. Most notary supply vendors can provide both a physical stamp and an electronic seal image as a package. Some e-signing platforms generate the seal image as part of their notary onboarding process.

The content requirements are identical to a physical seal: your commissioned name, "Notary Public," the commissioning county, and "Georgia" or "GA." An expiration date is not a statutory requirement, though including it is recommended for documents sent out of state. The digital version must be legible when embedded in electronic documents.

Essential Supplies Checklist

Here's what most Georgia notaries actually need on day one:

The total startup cost for supplies runs $15 to $50 for most notaries — a fraction of what national supply companies charge for their bundled packages. Buy individual items based on what you actually need, and skip the expensive "all-inclusive" kits that pad the price with unnecessary add-ons.

For a detailed breakdown of supply requirements, county-specific seal formatting rules, and the complete self-filer journal checklist, the Georgia Notary Commission Guide covers everything you need to set up your notary practice.

See more Georgia guides →