When must a notary deliver the seal to the Attorney General after resignation, death, expiration of term of office without reappointment, removal, or abandonment of office?

• A. Immediately
• B. Within 30 days
• C. Within 60 days
• D. Within 90 days

Answer: (A)

Immediately. The seal is state property and used to authenticate notarial acts. When a notary’s authority ends—whether by resignation, death, term expiration without reappointment, removal, or abandonment—there is no longer any authority to perform notarial acts. Delivering the seal right away to the Attorney General prevents any chance of the device being used fraudulently or for improper notarial act after the notary’s service has ended. The other timeframes would create a window during which misuse could occur, so there is no grace period; the requirement is immediate delivery.