A notary is a public official appointed by the California Secretary of State, who is authorized to notarize legal documents.  I am a “traveling” notary public, with whom you can make an appointment to meet at a location that is convenient for you such as an office, home or coffee shop.  I do not have a walk up office.

The “Certificate of Acknowledgment” is the form most frequently completed by a California notary public.  It must be in the exact form as set forth in Civil Code section 1189.  In the certificate of acknowledgment, the notary public certifies:

-That the signer personally appeared before the notary public on the date indicated in the county indicated;

-To the identity of the signer; and

-That the signer acknowledged executing the document

A notary public may not notarize a document that is incomplete, as per California Government Code section 8205.

The only document a California notary public is authorized to certify as a copy is a “powers of attorney”. (Probate Code section 4307)

We CANNOT certify copies of birth, death or marriage records.  These records may only be certified by the State Registrar, appointed local registrars and county recorders. (Health & Safety Code section 103545)

The second form most frequently completed by a notary public is the California “jurat”.  It is identified by the wording “Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed)” in the form.  In the jurat, the notary public certifies:

-That the signer personally appeared before the notary public on the date indicated and in the county indicated;

-That the signer signed the document in the presence of the notary public;

-That the notary public administered the oath or affirmation; and

-To the identity of the signer