What is the purpose of a notary seal in Connecticut?

• A. To stamp the document with a watermark.
• B. To authenticate the notary's certificate; the seal typically includes the notary's name, commission number, and expiration date.
• C. To seal the document against opening.
• D. To certify copies.

Answer: (B)

The seal serves to authenticate the notary’s official act. When the notary signs a certificate (such as an acknowledgment or jurat) and applies the seal, it shows the act was performed by a legitimately commissioned Connecticut notary and is therefore valid and recognized. In Connecticut, the seal typically contains the notary’s name, the commission number, and the commission expiration date, confirming the specific notary and that their authority was active at the time of the notarization. It’s not used to watermark a document, nor to seal it shut, and certifying copies is a separate function that isn’t the seal’s purpose.