Legal Definitions - seal of the state

A seal is a device or substance that joins two things, usually making the seam impervious. It can also refer to a piece of wax, a wafer, or some other substance affixed to a document to authenticate or prove its authenticity. The purpose of a seal is to secure or prove authenticity.

• A seal can be a piece of wax with an imprint of an individualized signet ring.
• A corporate seal is a seal adopted by a corporation for executing and authenticating its corporate and legal instruments.
• A state seal is the official seal of a particular state.
• A wafer seal is a plastic or paper disk, usually red or gold, affixed to a legal document as a substitute for a wax seal.

These examples illustrate how seals can be used to authenticate or execute documents, and how they can be specific to certain entities such as corporations or states. A wafer seal is an alternative to a traditional wax seal.