Legal Definitions - cera impressa

Cera impressa refers to an impressed seal. Historically, this Latin term specifically described seals made by pressing an emblem or design into melted wax. Over time, its meaning expanded significantly to encompass any seal created by making a physical impression onto a substance, regardless of whether that substance is wax, paper, or another material. The crucial element is the physical indentation or raised design that serves to authenticate a document or object, rather than the specific material used to receive the impression.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a large corporation finalizing a significant contract for a new office building. To make the contract legally binding and official, a representative uses a special tool to press the company's unique emblem directly onto the heavy paper of the agreement. This action creates a raised, three-dimensional image of the company logo and name on the document.

  This is an example of cera impressa because the company's official seal is physically impressed onto the paper, creating a distinct and permanent mark that authenticates the contract, even though no wax was used.

• When someone needs to legally certify a signature on an important affidavit, they visit a notary public. The notary witnesses the signing and then uses a special embosser to press their official seal onto the document, usually near the signature. This seal typically includes the notary's name, commission number, and expiration date, appearing as a raised impression on the paper.

  This illustrates cera impressa because the notary's seal is applied by physically impressing it onto the paper, leaving a clear, tactile mark that verifies the authenticity of the signature and the document, without involving wax.

• Consider a university issuing official transcripts to a student. To ensure the transcripts are authentic and tamper-proof, the registrar's office uses a device to emboss the university's official seal directly onto each page. This seal often features the university crest and name, appearing as a distinct, raised pattern on the paper.

  This is an instance of cera impressa because the university's official emblem is physically pressed into the paper of the transcript, creating a permanent, three-dimensional mark that certifies its authenticity, even though it's not made of wax.