A notarial certificate is a formal document created by a notary public that certifies the authenticity of a legal action, such as the signing of a document, an oath, or the identity of individuals involved in a transaction. It is a vital part of notarial acts and serves as proof that a specific notarization occurred, following legal and procedural requirements. In order for a Secretary of State or USDOS government agency to provide an apostille for a document requiring notarization, the notarial certificate MUST be 100% correct. If not, the request for an apostille will not be fulfilled and your document/s will be returned to you.
The contents of a notarial certificate typically include:
- Notarial Statement: A declaration that outlines the nature of the notarial act performed, such as acknowledging a signature or administering an oath.
- Details of the Document: Basic information about the document being notarized, though sometimes this is minimal for confidentiality purposes.
- Date and Location: The time and place where the notarial act took place.
- Notary’s Seal/Stamp: A unique seal or stamp of the notary public to authenticate the certificate.
- Signature of the Notary: The notary public’s signature.
- Name and Title of the Notary: The notary’s name, title, and sometimes commission expiration date.
The certificate is usually attached to the notarized document. There are several types of notarial certificates depending on the type of notarial act. These include:
- Acknowledgment Certificate: Used when someone acknowledges they signed a document voluntarily.
- Jurat Certificate: Used when the signer swears or affirms the truth of the contents of the document.
- Copy Certification: Certifies that a copy of a document is a true and accurate reproduction of the original.
Each jurisdiction may have specific legal requirements for what must be included in a notarial certificate.
Mindy Strum is a Certified Apostille Agent with 10+ years as a notary public in the state of Florida. Florida Notary Public, LLC DBA Apostille FLA provides apostille services from each state and the USDOS.
