Can a CA Notary use a hybrid certificate if the document is being used in a different state? — M.D., California
A California Notary may complete a hybrid certificate only if it includes acknowledgment and oath language and the document is intended for use or filing in another state. If the hybrid certificate contains jurat wording, it cannot be used. For example, a certificate with the wording “…sworn before me and acknowledged…” is acceptable, while a certificate with the wording “subscribed, sworn and acknowledged…” is not.
The key thing to remember is that the hybrid certificate must clearly be an acknowledgment and not a jurat certificate. California Civil Code 1189(c) permits Notaries to use out-of-state acknowledgment certificates on documents that will be filed outside California. California Government Code 8202(d) requires a jurat certificate to be in exactly the form prescribed.
If you are a Notary with questions about using hybrid certificates in other states, here is a helpful NNA Bulletin article on the topic: What Notaries need to know about hybrid certificates.
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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