The primary purpose of a notarial certificate is to provide a statement about the notarial act performed and confirm the notary's involvement. It serves as proof that the notary witnessed the signing, administered an oath, or performed other notarial acts.
If a signer cannot sign due to a physical disability, the notary can accept a mark or other form of signature if the signer indicates that the mark is their intended signature. The notary should also ensure that the mark is made in the notary's presence and properly document this in their notarial record.
For an acknowledgment, the notary must confirm that the signer understands the document and then witness the signing. The notary's role is to certify that the signer appeared before them, acknowledged their signature, and was willing to sign.
When certifying a copy of a document, the notary's responsibility is to compare the copy to the original and certify that the copy is a true and correct reproduction of the original document. The notary does not provide a new original document or notarize the signatures on the copy.
In a jurat, the notary must verify the signer's identity and ensure that the signer swears or affirms the contents of the document under oath. This involves witnessing the signing of the document and administering the oath or affirmation.
