What is an important characteristic of a notary seal?

The important characteristic of a notary seal is that it must contain the notary's name and commissioning state. This requirement ensures that the seal identifies the notary public and the jurisdiction in which they are authorized to perform notarial acts. Including the notary's name allows for easy verification of their identity and authority, while specifying the commissioning state helps ascertain the legal framework within which the notary operates.

This detail is crucial for the validity of notarized documents, as it provides essential information to parties relying on the notarial act, including legal enforceability. The presence of these elements on the seal helps prevent fraud and misuse by ensuring that documents can be traced back to a legitimate notary public.

The other characteristics mentioned, such as size, material, and limited use, are less critical to the primary function and identification that the seal is meant to provide. Thus, the specification that a notary seal must contain the notary's name and commissioning state highlights its vital role in maintaining the integrity of notarization practices.