An Alaska notary seal must show your name exactly as your commission certificate gives it, along with the words Notary Public and State of Alaska. It can be a circle up to 2 inches across or a rectangle up to 1 by 2.5 inches, and an embosser may only supplement it. This page covers wording, size, embossers, deadlines for notices, renewal and ordering.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against Alaska Stat. § 44.50.064(b)(1) and The Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, not the Secretary of State. Alaska is also not a Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts state. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Official seal | Required; the cited provision sets out what its wording must be. | Alaska Stat. § 44.50.064(b)(1) |
| Name line | Matches your commission certificate exactly. | Alaska Stat. § 44.50.064(b)(1) |
| Fixed words | Notary Public, and State of Alaska. | Alaska Stat. § 44.50.064(b)(1) |
| Size and shape | A rectangle no larger than 1 by 2.5 inches, a circle no wider than 2 inches, or an electronic version that regulation permits. | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
| Ink color | No color is specified. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | Only as an extra impression beside the required seal, never as a substitute; official guidance favors an inking seal as the main device. | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
| Commission term | Four years; a notary who renews usually keeps the same seal. | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
| Lost, stolen or compromised seal | Written notice to the Lieutenant Governor within 10 days. | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
| Name or address change | Report within 30 days on the office's form, signed by you. | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
| Commissioning office | The Lieutenant Governor, not the Secretary of State. | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
Moving your commission to another state? Compare its rule in notary seal requirements by state.
What three items go on an Alaska notary seal?
Your name, spelled and arranged exactly as your commission certificate shows it, plus two fixed phrases: Notary Public and State of Alaska. Alaska Stat. § 44.50.064(b)(1) sets out that wording.
Only the name line is personal to you, so it is the line that needs the closest check. Take it from the certificate itself, including any middle name or initial the certificate prints. Our summary of Alaska notary seal requirements covers the same ground.
Which office commissions Alaska notaries?
The Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, rather than a Secretary of State, commissions Alaska notaries. That office also receives the notices you owe about your seal and your record, and publishes the guidance favoring an inking seal for everyday use.
Two deadlines run to that office: 10 days for a missing or compromised seal and 30 days for a change of name or address. Both are covered below. For the wider legal picture, see our overview of Alaska notary stamp law.
Why can't an embosser be your only Alaska seal?
Because Alaska treats an embossed impression that does not reproduce photographically as an add-on. You may use one together with the required seal impression or depiction, but it can never stand in for that impression on its own.
For that reason, guidance from the Lieutenant Governor's office points you to an inking seal as the device to rely on. If you like the look of a raised impression, order the embosser as a second tool and keep the inked seal as the one every certificate relies on.
Which sizes and shapes does Alaska allow?
Three forms: a rectangle of at most 1 by 2.5 inches, a circle no more than 2 inches across, or an electronic version that regulation authorizes. The physical figures are ceilings, so a smaller seal in either shape still complies.
With just three items to print, both shapes leave generous room for legible type. Pick the one that suits the certificates you usually complete. Our guide on what to look for in an Alaska notary seal is a useful next read.
Does Alaska require a particular ink color?
No. The rules this page was checked against name no ink color for the Alaska notary seal. The reproduction point they do make sits in the embosser rule: an embossed impression that cannot be photographically reproduced is kept to a supporting role.
A dark ink that holds its edges on a photocopy or scan is the sensible choice, in keeping with the Lieutenant Governor's preference for an inking seal.
What must you do within ten days if your seal goes missing?
Send the Lieutenant Governor written notice within 10 days after the seal is lost or stolen. The same 10-day clock starts if your electronic seal suffers a security compromise. The deadline is fixed by statute, not left to a standard of promptness.
Count the days from the loss, theft or compromise, and keep a copy of what you sent. Then replace the seal before your next notarization so your certificates keep carrying a proper inked impression.
When do you report a new name or address?
Within 30 days. A new name, or a new mailing or physical address, has to be reported to the Lieutenant Governor on that office's own form, signed by you, inside that 30-day window.
A name change also reaches the seal, because the name line must match your commission certificate exactly. An address change does not touch the seal wording, since no address appears among the three required items.
Will you need a new seal when your commission renews?
Usually not. Alaska commissions run four years, and a notary who renews generally goes on using the same seal. None of the three required items is tied to a particular commission term.
Renewal is also a sensible moment to inspect the seal for wear. Our article on Alaska notary stamp renewal covers that stage in more depth.
What should you give us when ordering an Alaska seal?
Your name exactly as the commission certificate prints it, your choice of shape within the size limits, and whether you also want an embosser as a supplement. Notary Public and State of Alaska are fixed wording, so you only confirm them.
If your commission has not issued yet, wait for the certificate so the name line can be copied from it. Our guide to becoming a notary in Alaska covers the steps before that point.
How should you proof a new seal before notarizing?
Stamp a blank sheet and compare it with your commission certificate. The name must match exactly, both fixed phrases must be present, and the impression must stay within 1 by 2.5 inches for a rectangle or 2 inches across for a circle.
Then photocopy or scan the test sheet. Any line that fades or breaks up on the copy should be fixed before the seal goes on a certificate. Our rundown of Alaska notary stamp requirements is a handy cross-check at this step.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a nickname or shortened name on the seal?
Only if your commission certificate shows it that way. The name on the seal has to match the certificate exactly, so the certificate, not everyday usage, decides how the name line reads.
Do I need both a stamp and an embosser?
No. The statute requires the seal impression itself. An embosser is optional and, when used, may only accompany that impression.
Is an electronic seal allowed in Alaska?
Yes, in an electronic form that regulation authorizes. If someone compromises that electronic seal's security, the same 10-day written notice to the Lieutenant Governor applies as for a lost physical seal.
Do Alaska notary rules follow the uniform notarial acts law?
No. Alaska has not adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, so a rule you read for a state that did adopt it does not automatically carry over to Alaska.
Does my commission number have to appear on the seal?
It is not one of the required items. The wording the statute calls for is your name, Notary Public and State of Alaska.
When your certificate is in hand, choose a round or rectangular seal from our Alaska stamps and seals collection.
