I've got the forms for it but it mentions a "motto" and seal.
 
It says the motto need not be original but it gives no details regarding a seal.
 
 
Any ideas?

Thanks
 
The letter said "After swearing the Oath, you should send the impression of your seal and a specimen of your signature upon your headed office notepaper to The Legalisation Office, Old Admiralty Building, The Mall, London, SW1A 2LG."
 
But i take it that step can be skipped
 
 
Although - where would someone actually get a seal from anyway?

i'm pretty sure i'm in Scotland  
 
 
I can only guess that it's not a compulsory step.  It would seem that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the Legalisation Office can add an Apolstille to documents where it's necessary and that Notaries need to apply to have their signature and seal authenticated in advance by them

thanks
i have all the information from them - but, as per the original post, it's a little vague regarding the moto (all it says is that it need not be original - but offers no further guidance).  And there's the bit about the 'seal' but no information on that at all.

The seal isn't required in Scotland but it may be in other jurisdictions so if you think you will be notarially executing documents for people who will need to send them to foreign countries then you should get the seal.  I think a copy of this is then registered with the FCO.  Accordign to the Law Society's website:
 
"The application of the notarial seal is not necessary for Scottish purposes but maybe necessary in other jurisdictions.  
 
Certain documents for use abroad require a signature and notarial seal and to be "legalised" (authenticated) by the Foreign and Commonwealth office in London. See the Hague Convention on legalisation of foreign documents. Notaries should register their signature and seal with the foreign and Commonwealth office for this purpose. Thereafter notarised documents can be sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legalisation Office for the application of the Apostille together with payment of the relevant fee."
 
The full Law Society guidebook is in the following file:
 
http://www.lawscot.org.uk/uploads/Professional_Practice/The%20Modern%20Notary%20 Public%20in%20Scotland%20-%20Guidance%20for%20Intrant%20Notaries.doc
 
I've never acted as a NP because there seemed to be so many health warnings on acting as an NP outside Scotland it seemed the safest option.