What must happen to the notary's seal upon death?

• A. Destroy or deface the notary's seal
• B. Return the seal to the Secretary
• C. Sell the seal
• D. Keep for 6 months

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a notary’s seal must be rendered unusable once the notary is no longer in office, such as by death. The seal is the official mark that authenticates a notarization, so destroying or defacing it removes any possibility of someone illicitly using that authority in the future. This immediate destruction is the safeguard against fraudulent notarizations bearing the deceased notary’s impression. Keeping or selling the seal would risk misuse, and returning it to a state office is not the action that directly prevents ongoing or future fraudulent use. The clear requirement is to destroy or deface the seal to protect the integrity of notarial acts.