486.725 Paper documents, notarizing — signature and seal — lost or stolen seal — ...

486.725. Paper documents, notarizing — signature and seal — lost or stolen seal — resignation, expiration, or death of notary, effect of — revocation, return of seal. — 1. In notarizing a paper document, a notary public shall affix an official signature and an official seal on the notarial certificate at the time the notarial act is performed. 2. The official seal of a notary shall not be used for any purpose other than performing notarial acts. 3. The official seal of a notary shall: (1) Be the exclusive property of the notary; (2) Not be affixed by any other person; (3) Be kept secure and accessible only to the notary; and (4) Not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment. 4. Within ten days after the official seal of a notary is discovered to be stolen, lost, damaged, or otherwise rendered incapable of affixing a legible image, the notary, after informing the appropriate law enforcement agency in the case of theft or vandalism, shall notify the secretary by any means providing a tangible receipt, including certified mail and electronic transmission, and also provide a copy or number of any pertinent police report. Upon receipt of such notice, the secretary shall issue to the notary a new commission that shall be presented to a seal vendor in accordance with section 486.735 . 5. As soon as reasonably practicable after resignation, or expiration of a notary commission, or death of the notary, the seal shall be destroyed or defaced so that it may not be misused. 6. For a commission that has been revoked, the notary shall forward their seal to the secretary's office for disposal. Failure to do so may be punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars, at the discretion of the secretary. (L. 2020 H.B. 1655)