By signing and affixing an official seal on certificate wording, a Notary confirms that the signature was properly notarized and that they had proper authority to notarize the signature — but for some people, that isn’t enough. Some Notaries have been asked to go further and fill out and sign an affidavit where they swear or affirm that they are authorized to perform their duties and that they notarized a document on a certain date. Some of these affidavits may ask the Notary to describe the type of identification used and the type of document signed.
Read MoreSo, if the hybrid requires you to take the signer’s acknowledgment and administer an oath, do both. If the wording says, “Signed and acknowledged before me,” you must actually witness the signature and have the signer acknowledge signing the document. The signer couldn’t sign the document before coming to acknowledge his or her signature to you.
Read MoreA core part of a notarization is filling out the notarial certificate — details such as the date, location and signer for the notarial act taking place. If this wording is not printed on the document, you may need to attach a separate certificate form — referred to by some as a “loose certificate." Here are guidelines when to use or not to use separate certificate wording for a notarization.
Read MoreNotaries often ask how they can fix a bad seal impression if the ink smears or doesn't show up clearly during a notarization. While illegible Notary seal impressions are a common reason for document rejection, fixing the problem can be simple.
Read MoreEver had a notarization where you arrived at the signer’s house, only to find out you had to cancel or reschedule the appointment due to an expired ID, a missing document, or some other crucial element being absent? It’s a situation that frustrates both Notaries and clients.
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