In the event of a lost stamp or journal, what is the Notary required to do?

When a notary public loses their stamp or journal, the immediate priority is to notify the state. This requirement is crucial because the notary's stamp is an essential tool for executing notarial acts, and the journal serves as a record of these acts. The law mandates that this notification must occur as soon as the loss is discovered to prevent any potential misuse or unauthorized notarization that could arise from the stamp being in the hands of someone else.

Notifying the state promptly enables the appropriate authorities to take necessary actions, such as alerting the public or preventing fraudulent use of the lost notary tools. This is significant in maintaining the integrity of the notarial process and protecting the interests of the public and clients relying on the notary's services. The requirement to act quickly underscores the importance of safeguarding notarial equipment and responsibilities.