California Notary Public ExamAcknowledgments and Proofs of ExecutionEasy
A Notary Public is presented with a pre-printed acknowledgment certificate that begins with the venue: 'State of California, County of ORANGE, ss.' The notarization is taking place in Los Angeles County. What is the Notary's appropriate action regarding the venue?
- ACompletely disregard the pre-printed certificate and attach a new loose certificate.
- BRefuse the acknowledgment because the pre-printed venue is incorrect.
- CLeave 'ORANGE' as is, as it's a pre-printed form.
- DCross out 'ORANGE', write 'LOS ANGELES', and initial the correction.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Cross out 'ORANGE', write 'LOS ANGELES', and initial the correction.
The venue on an acknowledgment certificate must accurately reflect the county where the notarial act actually takes place. If the pre-printed venue is incorrect, the Notary must correct it by crossing out the incorrect information, writing in the correct information, and initialing the change.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Attaching a loose certificate is an option if the existing certificate is irrevocably flawed, but simple corrections like this should be made on the existing certificate.
- B. An incorrect pre-printed venue is a correctable error and does not necessitate refusing the acknowledgment, provided the Notary can make the correction.
- C. Leaving an incorrect venue is a violation of Notary law, as it misrepresents the location of the notarial act.
Acknowledgment Venue Correction
If the pre-printed venue on an acknowledgment certificate is incorrect, the Notary Public must correct it by crossing out the incorrect county, writing in the actual county where the notarization occurred, and initialing the change.
- Venue must reflect actual location of notarization.
- Corrections require striking through, writing in, and initialing.
- Incorrect venue invalidates certificate.
Memory trick: The 'Venue' must 'match' the 'spot' where the 'notary' acts.