I was presented with a document that includes a California acknowledgment certificate. As an Ohio Notary, can I complete a separate certificate with Ohio notarial wording on it and attach it to the document instead? — M.J., Ohio
Yes. Many Notaries outside California are uncomfortable signing a California acknowledgment because it expressly places the Notary under penalty of perjury under the laws of California for the truthfulness of the certificate. We recommend near the Notary signature line of the California acknowledgment that you write “see attached certificate”, then complete and staple your state’s acknowledgment certificate to the document.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
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