Utah requires a rectangular notary seal inside a border no larger than 1 by 2.5 inches, in purple ink for in-person acts and black ink for remote acts. The face carries your name and commission number exactly as commissioned, the phrases state of Utah, notary public and my commission expires on, and a facsimile of the state's great seal. Covered below: wording, ink, embossers, term, notices and ordering.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) and the Lieutenant Governor of Utah, under the Notaries Public Reform Act. Sources read September 2026. Updated 8 November 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Printed just as your commission shows it. | Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) |
| Commission number | Printed just as your commission shows it. | Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) |
| Set phrases | state of Utah; notary public; my commission expires on. | Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) |
| State seal | Utah's great seal, reproduced in facsimile. | Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) |
| Shape and size cap | A rectangular border measuring 1 inch by 2.5 inches or less. | Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) |
| Ink for in-person acts | Purple. | Utah notary statute |
| Ink for remote acts | Black. | Utah notary statute |
| Embosser | Only as an extra impression; it never replaces the inked seal. | The Lieutenant Governor of Utah |
| Name or address change | Notice to the Lieutenant Governor inside 30 days. | The Lieutenant Governor of Utah |
| Lost, stolen or damaged seal | Law enforcement right away, plus written notice to the Lieutenant Governor. | The Lieutenant Governor of Utah |
For the same rule in the other 53 jurisdictions, read notary seal requirements by state.
What does a Utah notary seal have to include?
Utah Code § 46-1-16(3)(b) requires a rectangular border enclosing: your name and commission number, each matching your commission exactly; the phrases state of Utah, notary public and my commission expires on; and a facsimile of the state's great seal.
Every one of those items is statutory, including the border. The state seal facsimile means the face carries an image as well as text, so a proof needs a visual check alongside the spelling check.
Our guide to Utah notary seal requirements takes each item in turn, and our note on Utah notary stamp requirements covers the stamp itself.
Which ink color do you use?
Purple when you notarize in person, and black when the notarization is remote. Both colors are set by statute, so the choice depends on the kind of notarization, not on personal preference.
Purple is the color to confirm first. A black seal used for in-person work is the wrong color under this rule, so check the ink on any seal you are offered before you order it.
Can an embosser stand in for the seal?
No. An embosser is a supplement only. You can add an embossed impression, but it never takes the place of the inked seal that carries the required items.
For a raised mark too, add an embosser as a second device next to the inked seal; it does not take the inked seal's place.
How large can the seal be?
At most 1 inch by 2.5 inches, and the outline has to be a rectangle. That limit is written into the statute as a cap rather than offered as a guideline, so there is no leeway above it.
Round and oval seals fail the rule, as does any rectangle exceeding either dimension. Lay out the face so the seal facsimile, the two personal items and the three phrases all sit within the border.
What should you do if the seal is lost, stolen or damaged?
Call law enforcement immediately and send written notice to the Lieutenant Governor. The duty starts when you learn of the loss, damage or destruction of the seal, or of unlawful interference with it.
Keep a copy of your written notice, and order a replacement seal before your next notarization. A damaged seal triggers the same two notices as a lost one, even if the device is still in your hands.
Which changes must you report within 30 days?
A change of name and a change of address. Either one goes to the Lieutenant Governor within 30 days, and the same deadline covers both.
A name change reaches the seal, because your name has to appear exactly as your commission shows it. Plan a replacement seal around the updated name so the face and the commission agree.
How long does a commission last, and can you renew it?
A Utah commission lasts four years, and the state offers no process of any kind for renewing it. There is no renewal step to schedule when a term nears its end.
The seal is tied to the commission it was made for: it prints that commission's number and its expiration line. Treat each seal as good for one commission only. Our article on Utah notary stamp renewal requirements looks at the end of a term in more detail.
Who commissions Utah notaries?
The Lieutenant Governor of Utah, acting under the Notaries Public Reform Act. The same office receives your 30-day change notices and your written notice of a lost, stolen or damaged seal.
For wider background on the law, see our overview of Utah notary laws for notaries public.
What should you have ready when ordering?
Your name and commission number exactly as your commission shows them, your expiration date for the expiration line, and whether the seal is for in-person work in purple or remote work in black.
The phrases, the state seal facsimile and the rectangular border are the same for every Utah notary. Our pages on Utah notary stamp law and Utah notary public seal guidelines are useful checks before you order.
How do you check a new seal before first use?
Make a test impression and measure the border: it must not exceed 1 inch by 2.5 inches. Then confirm the ink is the right color for the work, purple in person or black remote.
Read your name and commission number against your commission, character by character, and confirm all three phrases and the state seal facsimile are present and legible.
Frequently asked questions
What if my full name will not fit?
The border cap does not stretch for a long name. The layout has to be tightened to fit within 1 inch by 2.5 inches rather than the seal being made larger.
Is the size limit measured at the border?
Yes. The statute frames the cap in terms of the rectangular border, at most 1 inch by 2.5 inches, so the border is what you measure.
Does moving mean a new seal?
Your address is not among the items the seal must show, so the face stays the same. The move still has to be reported to the Lieutenant Governor within 30 days.
Does the notice rule cover my journal too?
Yes. The same duty to call law enforcement and notify the Lieutenant Governor in writing applies to your journal and your electronic materials, not only to your seal.
Can I order before my commission is issued?
It is better to wait. The seal prints your commission number exactly as the commission shows it, so you need the commission in hand first.
Order a purple in-person seal or a black remote seal from our Utah stamps and seals collection.
