Which element must appear on the notary seal to indicate the commission's expiration?

• A. The notary's name
• B. The notary's address
• C. The commission expiration date
• D. The notary's license number

Answer: (C)

Authority to notarize hinges on an active commission, and the seal communicates that by displaying the commission expiration date. This date shows whether the notary was still commissioned at the time of notarization, which is what verifies the notarization’s validity. The seal typically also bears the notary’s name, but the key item for indicating expiration is the commission expiration date. Addresses and license numbers aren’t required on the seal; they do not convey the notary’s authority in the same way. In short, the expiration date on the seal is what demonstrates that the notary’s commission was current when the act was performed.