A Nevada notary stamp is a rectangle of at most 1 by 2.5 inches that shows your name, the exact phrase Notary Public, State of Nevada, the date your appointment expires and your certificate of appointment number. The ink must be indelible and photographically reproducible. An embosser may be added but never replaces the stamp. This page covers wording, size, ink, term, changes and loss.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against NRS 240.040 and The Nevada Secretary of State. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Your name. | NRS 240.040 |
| Office and state phrase | Notary Public, State of Nevada, word for word. | NRS 240.040 |
| Expiration | The date your appointment ends. | NRS 240.040 |
| Certificate number | The number on your certificate of appointment. | NRS 240.040 |
| Shape and maximum size | A rectangle only, measuring up to 1 by 2.5 inches. | NRS 240.040 |
| Ink | Indelible and photographically reproducible, made by a rubber stamp or another mechanical stamp; no color is named. | NRS 240.040 |
| Embosser | An optional addition that cannot stand in for the stamp. | NRS 240.040 |
| Commission term | Four years, starting when your bond takes effect or, with no bond, when the Secretary of State signs your certificate. | The Nevada Secretary of State |
| Lost or stolen stamp | A firm 10-day deadline. | The Nevada Secretary of State |
| Name or address change | Notice within 30 days; a name change carries a $10 fee. | The Nevada Secretary of State |
Moving your commission to another state? Compare its rule in notary seal requirements by state.
What must a Nevada notary stamp say?
Four items, set by NRS 240.040: your name; Notary Public, State of Nevada, worded exactly that way; the date your appointment expires; and the number on your certificate of appointment. None of them is optional.
The phrase is fixed wording, so a stamp that shortens it or rearranges it does not follow the statute. Take the expiration date and the certificate number straight from your certificate of appointment. Our checklist of Nevada notary stamp requirements is a handy cross-check.
What size and shape does Nevada allow?
A rectangle, measuring 1 inch by 2.5 inches at most, under NRS 240.040. The shape is fixed, and the dimensions work as a ceiling, so a smaller rectangle also stays within the rule.
Four items have to fit inside that rectangle and stay readable, so the name and the certificate number should not be squeezed into type too small to copy well.
Does Nevada require a particular ink color?
No color is named in the notary act. NRS 240.040 instead requires the impression to be indelible and photographically reproducible, made with a rubber stamp or another mechanical stamp, so the ink's behavior matters more than its hue.
Choose an ink that stays sharp on a photocopy or scan, since reproducibility is part of the rule. Dark, dense ink is the practical choice for that test.
Can you use an embosser instead of a stamp?
No. In Nevada an embosser can only add to the inked stamp. It never substitutes for it, so every notarization still needs the rectangular inked impression carrying the four required items.
If you want a raised impression as an extra mark, it is allowed alongside the inked stamp. Our overview of Nevada notary public seal guidelines covers both devices.
How long is a Nevada notary appointment?
Four years. Each Nevada appointment runs for a four-year term, and the date it ends is one of the items your stamp has to show, so a stamp is tied to a single term.
When you renew, the new term brings a new expiration date, and a stamp made for the old term no longer matches. Order the new stamp once your new certificate is in hand; our tips on Nevada notary stamp renewal go through that step.
What must you do after a name or address change?
Give the Secretary of State notice inside 30 days. A name change also carries a $10 fee, and the same 30-day window covers a new mailing address, a move to another county or a change to your signature.
If you live in an adjoining state, a change to your place of business or employment falls under the same 30 days. A new name also affects the stamp itself, since your name is one of the four required items.
What if your stamp is lost or stolen?
You face a firm 10-day deadline. Nevada treats that limit as strict, so act on a missing stamp as soon as you notice it rather than waiting to see whether it turns up.
The requirement as summarized here gives the deadline without spelling out the filing itself. The Secretary of State commissions Nevada notaries, so that office is the one to ask about what the 10 days require. Replace the stamp before your next notarization.
Who commissions Nevada notaries?
The Nevada Secretary of State. That office signs the certificate of appointment whose number and expiration date appear on your stamp, and it is the office you notify about changes within 30 days.
If you are not yet commissioned, our guide to the Nevada notary application covers the steps before you order a stamp.
What should you supply when ordering a Nevada stamp?
Your name, your certificate of appointment number and your appointment expiration date, copied from the certificate itself. The wording Notary Public, State of Nevada and the rectangular format are fixed, so you supply only your own details.
Also decide whether you want an embosser as a supplement. A new notary can use our supplies list for new Nevada notaries to round out the order.
How do you check a new Nevada stamp before first use?
Stamp a test sheet, measure the impression against the 1 by 2.5 inch limit, and read the four items against your certificate of appointment: your name, the exact phrase, the expiration date and the certificate number.
Then photocopy or scan the sheet. The ink has to be photographically reproducible, so any line that blurs or drops out on the copy needs fixing before you notarize with it. For the statute in plain terms, read our summary of Nevada notary stamp law.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a round notary stamp from another state in Nevada?
No. NRS 240.040 allows only a rectangle, so a round stamp brought from another state has to be replaced with a Nevada rectangle within the size limit and carrying the Nevada wording.
Does my signature have to be in ink?
Yes. Alongside the ink standard for the stamp impression, Nevada requires your signature to be made in ink as well.
When does a Nevada appointment begin?
The appointment starts the day your bond takes effect. If there is no bond, the appointment begins when the Secretary of State signs your certificate of appointment.
Can I use a self-inking stamp?
Yes. A self-inking stamp is a mechanical stamp, and the rule accepts a rubber or other mechanical stamp as long as the impression is indelible and photographically reproducible.
Does the $10 fee apply to an address change?
The $10 fee is tied to a change of name. For the other changes, including your mailing address, your county or your signature, the 30-day notice applies and no fee is stated.
Order a Nevada notary stamp built to NRS 240.040 from our Nevada stamps and seals collection.
