Connecticut does not require a notary seal, but a seal you choose to use must carry the wording set by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k. That means your name matching your certificate of appointment, the title Notary Public, the state name Connecticut, and a My commission expires line. Size, shape and ink color are left open. This page covers wording, devices, term and reporting.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k and the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | No. A Connecticut notary may work without one. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k |
| Name | Must match your certificate of appointment exactly. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k |
| Title | The words Notary Public. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k |
| State | The word Connecticut. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k |
| Expiration line | My commission expires, followed by your expiration date. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k |
| Commission number or county | Neither is part of the listed wording. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94k |
| Dimensions | The statute sets neither a size nor a shape. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Ink color | No color is named. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | Not mentioned by name. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Lost or stolen seal | No statutory procedure or deadline. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
Moving your commission to another state? Compare its rule in notary seal requirements by state.
What wording must a Connecticut notary seal carry?
Three pieces of content under § 3-94k: your name in the form your certificate of appointment uses, the title Notary Public with the state name Connecticut, and a line reading My commission expires followed by the date your commission ends.
Treat the phrase as fixed text and order it exactly as the statute words it. Then give the date in a clear, full form so no one has to guess which day the commission closes. A plain reading of Connecticut notary stamp law has more on the statute itself.
How must your name appear on the seal?
Exactly as your certificate of appointment shows it. The certificate, not the way you usually sign or the name on your business card, is the reference the seal has to follow, letter for letter.
Keep the certificate beside you when you place the order. Spelling from memory invites a mismatch with the record the seal is supposed to mirror.
Is a seal mandatory for Connecticut notaries?
No. A seal is not required for a Connecticut notary. If you decide to use one, § 3-94k controls what it says, so the optional device still has fixed content that you cannot improvise.
That makes the purchase a choice rather than a mandate. Decide whether a seal suits the documents you handle, then build it to the statutory wording. For a short version of the rules, see Connecticut notary stamp requirements in brief.
Can you use an embosser?
Connecticut's notary statute does not refer to an embosser by name. Its wording rule describes what a seal must say, and it does not single out any one kind of device for the job.
A raised impression with no ink can be hard to read on a photocopy or a scan. If you like the look of an embosser, pair it with an inked stamp for documents that will be copied. Our guide to Connecticut notary supplies and seal embossers has more on supplies and embossers.
What size, shape and ink color are allowed?
None of them is specified. Connecticut sets no size, no shape and no ink color for a notary seal, so those choices are yours, and the practical test is whether the wording stays easy to read.
Pick a size that keeps all three pieces of content readable at a glance and fits the certificate space on the forms you see most. Dark ink that copies cleanly is a sensible default, though the statute names no color. Connecticut notary public seal guidelines has more on format choices.
Who commissions Connecticut notaries, and what follows appointment?
The Connecticut Secretary of the State. After your certificate of appointment arrives, you have 30 days to record it at the town clerk's office in the town where you live, along with your oath of office.
That recording step is easy to overlook because it comes after the appointment itself. Put the deadline on your calendar the day the certificate reaches you.
How long does a commission last, and what does that mean for the seal?
A term lasts five years and closes on the final day of the month you were appointed in. Because the expiration line is part of the seal's wording, a seal made for one term shows a date that no longer applies after that term closes.
Before ordering a seal for a later term, have the new expiration date in hand so the line matches it. What renewal means for a Connecticut notary stamp has more on renewal.
What do you report after a name or address change?
Both, each within 30 days with the Secretary of the State. A name change carries a $15 fee, while the Notary Public Manual (Rev. 2026-1) has a residence address change reported online at no charge.
A name change also reaches the seal, because the seal carries your name. Finish the reporting first, then order artwork that matches your updated record.
Is there a rule for a lost or stolen seal?
Connecticut's statute does not address a lost or stolen notary seal. No statutory reporting step or deadline applies to that situation, which leaves the response to your own judgment.
With no rule to follow, practical care does the work. Keep the seal locked away when you are not using it, and if it goes missing, replace it with a device built to the same wording so your certificates stay consistent.
What should you have ready when you order?
Your certificate of appointment, your commission expiration date and a choice of device. The certificate gives the exact name, and the expiration date completes the My commission expires line that closes out the wording.
Decide on size and ink color yourself, since the statute leaves both open. Our buyer's checklist for a Connecticut notary seal is a handy companion to this list.
How do you check the seal before first use?
Stamp a test sheet and compare it word for word with § 3-94k and your certificate. Check the name letter by letter, confirm Notary Public and Connecticut both appear, and read the expiration date against your commission.
Photocopy the test sheet too. If the date or your name blurs on the copy, fix the device before it goes on a signed certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Does my middle initial have to be on the seal?
If your certificate of appointment shows it, yes. The statute ties the name on the seal to the certificate, so the seal follows the certificate's form of your name, initials included.
When does the 30-day town clerk deadline start?
When you receive the certificate of appointment, not on the appointment date itself. Record the certificate and your oath of office with your town clerk within 30 days of receipt.
What expiration date goes on the seal if I was appointed mid-month?
The last day of that month, five years on. Terms close on the final day of the appointment month, so an appointment on the 12th still runs to the month's last day.
If my name and address change at once, what do I pay?
$15 for the name change. The Notary Public Manual has the address change reported online at no charge. Both reports are due within 30 days.
Should the seal show my commission number or county?
Neither appears in the wording § 3-94k lists. The listed content is your name, Notary Public, Connecticut and the expiration line.
With your certificate and expiration date in hand, choose a seal or stamp from our Connecticut stamps and seals and check the proof against your certificate before approving it.
