Notarial Certificates, Wording, and Official Seal/Stamp Requirements
This domain tests the contents, wording, and sealing of notarial certificates.
Certificate content
A notarial certificate is the notary's written statement of what was done. It should identify the venue (Commonwealth of Kentucky, county), date, signer, act performed, and notary. The notary signs, dates, and applies the official seal/stamp. Kentucky requires the notary's commissioned name, the words “Notary Public,” “Commonwealth of Kentucky,” and the commission expiration date. The stamp must be clear and photographically reproducible; do not let the seal cover certificate text.
Wording discipline
No single magic sentence is required, but the wording must match the act. An acknowledgment certificate states that the record was acknowledged before the notary on a date by a named person. A jurat states that the record was signed and sworn/affirmed before the notary. A signature-witnessing certificate states that the signature was signed in the notary's presence. Venue and expiration are common omissions that invalidate an otherwise good act.
Worked example
A certificate reads: “Sworn to before me on March 3 by A. Jones,” but the notary admits Jones never appeared and no oath was given. The certificate is false despite the seal. The notary should have required appearance, identified Jones, administered the oath, watched the signature, and then completed the jurat accurately.
Traps
- Pre-signing or pre-dating certificates before the act.
- Omitting venue, date, or commission expiration.
- Using an embosser that cannot be photocopied without inking.
- Applying the seal over the signer's signature or certificate wording.