Which items must the seal of an Arizona notary include?

• A. Notary name, "Notary Public," county, commission number, expiration date
• B. Notary name and commission number only
• C. Notary name, "Notary Public," county, commission number, expiration date, Great Seal of AZ
• D. Notary name with county only, no expiration date

Answer: (C)

The essential function of the notary seal is to identify the notary and show the act is performed under state authority. In Arizona, the official seal should carry the notary’s name, the words Notary Public, the county for which the commission is issued, the commission number, the expiration date, and the Great Seal of the State of Arizona. This combination confirms exactly who notarized, under what authority (the state), for which county, with a current commission, and with the state insignia that authenticates the seal itself. If any one of these elements is missing, the seal doesn’t meet the required standards. For instance, omitting the Great Seal removes the state’s official insignia, while omitting the expiration date or the commission number makes it harder to verify that the notary’s commission is current and properly issued.