California Notary Public ExamAcknowledgments and Proofs of ExecutionEasy
A California Notary Public is presented with a document for an acknowledgment. The signer has already signed the document, and states they signed it two days ago in a different county. What is the Notary's appropriate action regarding the date on the acknowledgment certificate?
- ADate the certificate with the date the signer indicates they signed the document.
- BDate the certificate with the actual date the signer personally appeared before the Notary.
- CRefuse to perform the acknowledgment due to the discrepancy in signing date and notarization date.
- DLeave the date blank for the signer to fill in later.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Date the certificate with the actual date the signer personally appeared before the Notary.
The date on an acknowledgment certificate must always reflect the date the signer personally appeared before the Notary Public and performed the verbal affirmation, not the date the document was signed. Notaries certify the act of notarization, not the act of signing.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The certificate date must reflect the date of notarization, not the date the document was signed.
- C. The Notary should not refuse the acknowledgment solely for a prior signing date, as long as the signer personally appears and affirms their signature on the current date.
- D. Leaving the date blank is an incomplete certificate and a violation of Notary law.
Acknowledgment Certificate Date
The date on an acknowledgment certificate must always reflect the actual date the signer personally appeared before the Notary Public for the notarization, regardless of when the document was signed.
- Date reflects notarization, not document signing.
- Signer must personally appear on the date indicated.
- Ensures accurate record of the notarial act.
Memory trick: The 'date' on the certificate is when the 'notary' saw the 'face'.