§ 21-14-107 — Signature - Seal

(a) (1) At the time of notarization, the notary public shall sign his or her official signature in blue or black ink on every notary certificate. (2) The official signature is the signature on file with the Secretary of State at the time of signing. (3) A notary public may refuse to perform a notarial act for any reason, including when the principal: (A) Does not appear to understand the nature of the transaction that requires the notarial act; (B) Does not appear to be acting of his or her own free will; (C) Lacks the ability to sign a notarial document using letters or characters of a language that is understood by the notary public; or (D) Is not able to communicate directly with the notary public in a language understood by the principal and the notary public. (4) (A) A signature by mark on a notarial document is legal for the purposes of executing the notarial document if the mark is: (i) Made by a person who at the time of signature lacks the ability to write or sign his or her name; and (ii) Witnessed by at least one (1) disinterested person. (B) The notary public shall write below a signature by mark: "Mark affixed by (Name of signer by mark) in the presence of (name(s) of witnesses)". (5) When a principal is physically unable to sign or make a mark on a notarial document, a disinterested third party may sign the name of the principal if: (A) The principal directs the disinterested third party to sign the name of the principal in the presence of two (2) disinterested witnesses; (B) The disinterested third party signs the name of the principal in the presence of the notary public, the principal, and the disinterested witnesses; (C) Each disinterested witness signs his or her own name beside the signature; (D) The notary public writes below the signature: "Signature affixed by (name of third party) at the direction and in the presence of (name of principal unable to sign or make a mark) and also in the presence of (names of two witnesses)"; and (E) The notary public notarizes the required notarial certificate. (b) (1) Under or near a notary public's official signature on every notary certificate, the notary public shall provide a seal of his or her office in blue or black ink, which shall be either a rubber stamp seal or a seal embosser. The seal shall be clear and legible and capable of photographic reproduction. (2) The seal shall include: (A) The notary public's name exactly as he or she writes his or her official signature; (B) The name of the county where the notary public's bond is filed; (C) The words "notary public" and "Arkansas"; (D) The date upon which the notary public's commission expires; and (E) The notary public's commission number issued by the Secretary of State if the notary public has been issued a commission number. (c) A notary seal shall not include the Seal of the State of Arkansas or an outline of the state. (d) The seal and certificate of the notary public commission are the exclusive property of the notary public and must be kept in the exclusive control of the notary public. (e) The seal and certificate of the notary public commission shall not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment, regardless of whether or not the employer paid for the seal or for the commission. (f) (1) (A) For a notarial act involving a document, a notary public shall complete a notarial certificate that is worded in English. (B) The notarial certificate shall include: (i) The official signature of the notary public as described in subdivision (a)(1) of this section; (ii) The official seal of the notary as described in subdivision (b)(1) of this section; (iii) The venue of the notarial act, including the name of the state and county; and (iv) The date of the notarial act. (2) A notarial certificate is incomplete if: (A) The information within the notarial certificate is known or believed by the notary public to be false; (B) A notary public affixes an official signature or seal on a notarial certificate that is incomplete under subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section; (C) An official signature or seal on a notarial certificate is known to be executed at a time when the principal or signer was not present; or (D) A signed or sealed notarial certificate is executed with the understanding that the notarial certificate will be completed or attached to a document outside of the presence of the notary public.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2017, No. 537,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2017. Amended by Act 2013, No. 492,§ 4, eff. 8/16/2013. Rev. Stat., ch. 104, § 7; C. & M. Dig., § 7976; Pope's Dig., § 10369; Acts 1981, No. 672, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 12-1402; Acts 2001, No. 1274, § 4; 2005, No. 1962, § 104; 2005, No. 2274, § 2.