What must a notarial certificate include?

The notarial certificate is the formal written record of the notarial act, attached to or appearing on the document. Required elements (vary by state): (1) Venue — the state and county where the notarization occurred ('State of California, County of Los Angeles'); (2) Notarial wording — the specific statement of what the notary certified (acknowledgment language, jurat language, etc.) — most states provide statutory templates; (3) Date of notarization; (4) Signer's name; (5) Notary's signature; (6) Notary's official seal or stamp — typically including the notary's name, commission number, commission expiration date, and state; (7) Notary's printed name; (8) Commission expiration date (may be in the seal or separately noted). The certificate must be the proper type for the notarial act performed. Acknowledgment language is different from jurat language. Many states make pre-printed forms available; using the correct one is essential. A defective certificate may invalidate the entire notarization.