Notary · Liability and Discipline

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

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

If discovered before delivery: line through with a single line, write the correction, initial and date — never erase or use whiteout. If discovered later: contact the signer and properly redo the entire notarization, do not alter the original certificate without the signer present

A Use whiteout
B If discovered before delivery: line through with a single line, write the correction, initial and date — never erase or use whiteout. If discovered later: contact the signer and properly redo the entire notarization, do not alter the original certificate without the signer present
C Leave the error
D Tear up the document

Why this is the answer

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.

Source: NNA Correcting Errors

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About this topic: Liability and Discipline

Liability and discipline questions cover civil liability for errors, the surety bond versus errors-and-omissions insurance, criminal penalties for misconduct, and the grounds for commission suspension or revocation. This is one of 8 Notary questions on liability and discipline, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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

Why this is the answer

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About this topic: Liability and Discipline

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