1.    The secretary of state, upon receipt of the proper fee, oath, and bond, shall issue a certificate of authorization with which the notary public may obtain an official notary stamping device. A notary stamp vendor may provide a notary with an official stamping device only upon presentation by the notary of a certificate of authorization. The notary public shall place an impression of the notary’s stamp on the certificate of authorization and return the certificate of authorization to the secretary of state. After the certificate of authorization is received, approved, and filed, the secretary of state shall issue a notary commission that authorizes the notary to commence the duties of the office of notary public. A notary being commissioned must obtain a stamping device approved by the secretary of state which must be designed to leave a clear impression, be photographically reproducible, include the words “State of North Dakota” and “Notary Public”, contain the name and commission expiration date of the notary public exactly as shown on the notary’s commission, and which may not contain any other words, numbers, symbols, or a reproduction of the great seal of the state. All notary stamps must be surrounded by a border and, except as otherwise permitted by the secretary of state, may be up to or equal to one and five-eighths inch [41.28 millimeters] in diameter or if of a rectangular design, may be up to or equal to seven-eighths inch [22.23 millimeters] vertically by two and five-eighths inches [66.68 millimeters] horizontally.

2.    A notary public is responsible for the security of the notary public’s stamping device and may not allow another individual to use the device to perform a notarial act. On resignation from, or the revocation or expiration of, the notary public’s commission, or on the expiration of the date set forth in the stamping device, if any, the notary public shall disable the stamping device by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing, or securing it against use in a manner that renders it unusable. On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a notary public, the notary public’s personal representative or guardian or any other individual knowingly in possession of the stamping device shall render it unusable by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing, or securing it against use in a manner that renders it unusable.

3.    If a notary public’s stamping device is lost or stolen, the notary public or the notary public’s personal representative or guardian shall notify promptly the secretary of state on discovering that the device is lost or stolen.

4.    An official stamping device is the property of the notary only and may not be retained or used by any other person, including an employer of a notary even if the employer purchased or paid for the notary’s stamping device. An official stamping device must remain in the direct and exclusive control of the notary at all times during a notary’s commission.