A loose certificate is a notarial certificate that is contained on a separate sheet of paper and is not part of the original document. It is attached — usually stapled — to the document’s signature page. It’s used when:

• No notarial wording is provided on the document.
• The provided certificate wording doesn’t comply with state requirements.
• There is no room for the seal on the document.
• The preprinted certificate has already been used by another Notary.