What is the first step a Notary should take if their seal is lost?

When a Notary discovers that their seal is lost, the appropriate first action is to report the loss to the relevant authority. This step is crucial because it helps protect against potential fraudulent use of the lost seal. By notifying the appropriate authority, such as the state’s notary regulating office, the Notary ensures that their seal is officially recorded as lost. This can help mitigate any unauthorized notarizations that may occur using the missing seal.

While other actions listed might be necessary afterward, such as stopping notarization activities until a new seal is obtained or informing signers about the situation, those steps come after the important first action of reporting the loss. Obtaining a new seal is also necessary but typically cannot occur until the loss has been formally reported, and the Notary has stopped any potential misuse of the lost seal.