California Notary Public ExamAcknowledgments and Proofs of ExecutionMedium
A Notary Public is asked to complete an acknowledgment certificate for a document signed by 'Jane Doe, as President of XYZ Corporation.' The pre-printed certificate only has a blank for 'Name of Signer.' How should the Notary complete the signer's name in the certificate?
- AJane Doe, as President of XYZ Corporation
- BJane Doe
- CLeave the signer's name blank, as the capacity is not explicitly provided in the certificate.
- DXYZ Corporation, by Jane Doe, President
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Jane Doe
For an acknowledgment, the Notary certifies the identity of the individual who personally appeared and acknowledged their signature. The certificate wording should reflect the individual's name, not their representative capacity or the entity they represent. The capacity is usually included in the document itself, not the Notary's certificate.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Including the representative capacity in the Notary certificate wording is incorrect for an acknowledgment; it focuses on the individual.
- C. The signer's name is a required element; it cannot be left blank.
- D. This wording is more appropriate for a proof of execution by subscribing witness or for acknowledging an entity's signature when the certificate wording explicitly supports it, which is not the case here.
Acknowledgment Certificate: Signer's Name
In an acknowledgment certificate, the Notary must identify the individual signer, not their representative capacity or the entity they represent.
- Focus is on the individual's personal appearance and acknowledgment.
- Only the individual's name (e.g., Jane Doe) should be entered.
- Representative capacity (e.g., 'President') is typically on the document itself, not the Notary's certificate.
Memory trick: Acknowledge the Person, Not the Position.