North Carolina Notary Practice Exam

A notary seal must be returned for proper disposal primarily after resignation, revocation, or termination of a notary's commission. This is a crucial requirement designed to prevent unauthorized use of the notary seal once the notary is no longer in office.

When a notary resigns or has their commission revoked or terminated, they relinquish their authority to perform notarial acts. Returning the seal ensures that it cannot be misused by the former notary, protecting the integrity of notarization and the public. This practice helps to mitigate the risk of fraud and ensures that only current and authorized notaries can carry out official duties.

Other scenarios, such as completing a notary term, dealing with a damaged seal, or changing notary status, do not carry the same immediate risk of unauthorized use as the cessation of authority associated with resignation, revocation, or termination. Thus, while it may be appropriate to handle a damaged seal or change notary status according to different protocols, the most critical moment for proper disposal of the seal is when a notary ceases to hold their commission.