A Guam notary must use an inked stamp in black ink, enclosed in a rectangular border, and an embosser in addition to that stamp. The stamp shows your name exactly as commissioned, the territorial notary legend, a commission expiration line and your business or residence address. No size is set. This page covers wording, ink, devices, term, changes and loss.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against 5 GCA § 33412(a) and The Attorney General of Guam. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Exactly as your commission shows it. | 5 GCA § 33412(a) |
| Office and territory legend | The title "Notary Public" followed by "in and for the Territory of Guam, U.S.A." | 5 GCA § 33412(a) |
| Expiration line | "My commission expires" with your own expiration date after it. | 5 GCA § 33412(a) |
| Address | Your business address or your residence address. | 5 GCA § 33412(a) |
| Border and shape | A rectangular border runs around the required wording, which fixes the outline. | 5 GCA § 33412(a) |
| Size | No dimensions are set. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Ink color | Black, set by statute. | 5 GCA § 33412(a) |
| Embosser | Needed as well as the inked stamp, never in its place. | The Attorney General of Guam |
| Lost or stolen stamp | Written notice within ten days, with a receipt for it. | The Attorney General of Guam |
| Change of address | A 30-day window, and a new seal is needed. | The Attorney General of Guam |
Moving your commission to another state? Compare its rule in notary seal requirements by state.
What wording goes on a Guam notary stamp?
Four items, under 5 GCA § 33412(a): your name exactly as the commission shows it, the notary legend for the Territory of Guam, a commission expiration line, and your business or residence address, all inside a rectangular border.
The legend has two parts that run together: the title "Notary Public", then "in and for the Territory of Guam, U.S.A." The expiration line opens with "My commission expires" and ends with your own expiration date. See how these lines are laid out in our guide to Guam notary stamp requirements.
What shape and size must the stamp be?
The shape is set and the size is not. The rectangular border around the required words makes the stamp rectangular, while the cited law states no height, width or other dimension for it.
That leaves room to size the stamp around your content. A full business or residence address is usually the longest part of the face, so choose a rectangle large enough to keep every line readable in a photocopy.
What ink color does Guam require?
Black. Guam sets the ink color in its notary statute, so a Guam notary stamp is inked in black rather than in whatever color the notary prefers. Other colors do not meet the rule.
Order the stamp with black ink from the start. Pale or colored impressions also cause trouble on documents that will be copied later.
Do you need an embosser as well as a stamp?
Yes. Read as written, Guam's statute calls for an embosser in addition to the inked stamp. The embosser is used alongside the stamp and does not take its place, so a Guam notary works with two devices.
Plan for both when you set up. The black inked stamp carries the required wording inside its border, and the embosser adds a raised impression on the same document. Our overview of Guam notary seal requirements covers the seal in more depth.
How long does a Guam notary commission last?
Four years, counted from the date of your own commission. Guam has no single expiration date shared by all notaries, so each commission runs on its own four-year clock and ends on its own date.
Because the stamp carries your commission expiration date, it matches one term only. When a new term begins, the date on the stamp has to change with it. Our note on Guam notary stamp renewal requirements and our article on expiration dates on Guam notary seals cover that step.
Who commissions Guam notaries?
The Attorney General of Guam, who commissions any qualified person who applies under the notary chapter. Qualifying means being 18 or older, living on Guam, reading and writing English, holding United States citizenship, and passing a written exam.
Each of those is a condition of being commissioned, and the written exam is the one that takes preparation, so plan for it before you apply. For the application side, see our guide to becoming a notary in Guam.
What happens when your address changes?
You have 30 days, and you will need a new seal. Your business or residence address is printed on the stamp, so once it changes, the old stamp no longer shows the address the law requires.
Order the new stamp with the new address exactly as you want it printed, and retire the old stamp so it cannot be used by mistake.
What if your Guam stamp is lost or stolen?
Send written notice within ten days and get a receipt for it. Guam's requirement combines a short deadline, a written form and a receipt as proof of the notice, so a missing stamp needs attention right away.
Replace the stamp before your next notarization, and order the embosser too if it went missing, since both devices are needed. Keep the receipt with your notary records.
What should you supply when ordering?
Your name exactly as it appears on your commission, your commission expiration date, and the business or residence address you want printed. The legend, the rectangular border and the black ink are fixed by law.
Order the embosser at the same time so both devices arrive together. Our checklist of Guam notary public seal guidelines is a useful cross-check before you submit the order.
How do you check a new Guam stamp before first use?
Stamp a blank sheet and read every line against your commission: the name letter for letter, the full notary legend ending in U.S.A., the expiration line and date, and your address, all within a rectangular border in black ink.
Then emboss the same sheet and make a photocopy. Both impressions should be visible on the original, and the inked stamp should stay readable on the copy.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Guam notary use a round stamp?
No. The required rectangular border sets the outline, so a round or oval stamp does not match 5 GCA § 33412(a). The size is flexible; the shape is not.
Is a residence address acceptable instead of a business address?
Yes. The stamp may show your business address or your residence address, and 5 GCA § 33412(a) accepts either one.
Does the legend have to include U.S.A.?
Yes. The territorial legend ends with U.S.A., so a stamp reading only "in and for the Territory of Guam" is incomplete. Copy the whole phrase exactly.
How much is the Guam notary bond, and how long does it run?
The bond is $1,000, and one bond covers the whole four-year term of the commission.
Does a name change also call for a new stamp?
The rules summarized here give a deadline for a change of address but none for a change of name. Your name must still match the commission exactly, so keep the stamp in step with the name your commission shows.
Order your black-ink stamp and embosser together from our Guam stamps and seals collection.
