{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-486.725","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.725","heading":"Paper documents, notarizing — signature and seal — lost or stolen seal — resignation, expiration, or death of notary, effect of — revocation, return of seal.","body":"1. In notarizing a paper document, a notary public shall affix an official signature and an official seal on the notarial certificate at the time the notarial act is performed.\n2. The official seal of a notary shall not be used for any purpose other than performing notarial acts.\n3. The official seal of a notary shall:\n(1) Be the exclusive property of the notary;\n(2) Not be affixed by any other person;\n(3) Be kept secure and accessible only to the notary; and\n(4) Not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment.\n4. Within ten days after the official seal of a notary is discovered to be stolen, lost, damaged, or otherwise rendered incapable of affixing a legible image, the notary, after informing the appropriate law enforcement agency in the case of theft or vandalism, shall notify the secretary by any means providing a tangible receipt, including certified mail and electronic transmission, and also provide a copy or number of any pertinent police report. Upon receipt of such notice, the secretary shall issue to the notary a new commission that shall be presented to a seal vendor in accordance with section 486.735.\n5. As soon as reasonably practicable after resignation, or expiration of a notary commission, or death of the notary, the seal shall be destroyed or defaced so that it may not be misused.\n6. For a commission that has been revoked, the notary shall forward their seal to the secretary's office for disposal. Failure to do so may be punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars, at the discretion of the secretary.","path":["Title XXXII - COURTS","Chapter 486 - Commissioners of Deeds and Notaries Public"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=486.725","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:28Z","sha256":"c1737edf47e971df4aa1196286242a20385aa37c67127098ca9be0b81ba8e249","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-486.715","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-486.730"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}