New York State Notary Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The notarial certificate is the document that typically accompanies a notarization. This certificate serves as verification that the notary has performed the act of notarization, which includes confirming the identity of the signer, witnessing their signature, and ensuring they are signing willingly and of sound mind. The notarial certificate contains essential information such as the notary's signature, the date of the notarization, the type of acknowledgment (e.g., acknowledgment, jurat), and sometimes details about the document being notarized.

This certificate is crucial because it provides an official record of the notarization process and can be used to enforce the validity of the document in legal settings. The other options, while possibly relevant in different contexts, do not serve as the standard accompaniment to a notarization. For instance, a certificate of authenticity typically pertains to verifying the genuineness of art or collectibles, a legal affidavit is a sworn statement made under oath, and a copy of the notary’s license is not standard practice in document notarization processes. Thus, the notarial certificate is essential for establishing the legitimacy of the notarized document itself.