What should a notary do if they discover they have made an error on a notarial certificate?

Notarial certificate errors should be addressed carefully and transparently. If discovered before delivery (still in the notary's presence): line through the error with a single line so the original remains readable, write the correction nearby, initial and date the change. Never erase or whiteout — these actions appear to hide alteration and undermine the certificate's credibility. If discovered after delivery: contact the signer and re-do the entire notarization correctly — the signer must be present again, ID re-verified, and a new certificate completed. Do not alter the certificate after the fact without the signer's presence. Common errors that require redoing: wrong date; wrong county on venue; wrong type of notarial act (acknowledgment vs jurat); missing signer information. Document all errors and corrections in the journal: original error, correction or new notarization. Pretending the error didn't happen creates greater legal exposure. Honest correction with proper procedure protects both the notary and the parties relying on the notarization.