Acknowledgment: This form is most frequently used by the Notary Public. In the certificate of acknowledgment, the notary public certifies: *That the signer personally appeared before the notary public on the date indicated in the county where indicated; *To the identity of the signer; and *That the signer acknowledged executing the document.

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Jurat: The second form most frequently completed by a notary public is the Jurat. The jurat is identified by the wording "Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed)" contained in the form. In the jurat, the notary public certifies: * That the signer personally appeared before the notary public on the date indicated and in the county indicated; *That the signer signed the document in the presence of the notary public; 

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Signature by Mark: When the signer of an instrument cannot write (sign) their name, that person may sign the document by a mark. The requirements for notarizing a signature by mark are as follows: *The person signing the document by mark must be identified by the notary public by satisfactory evidence. *The signer's mark must be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own names as witnesses on the document.

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Oath by Two Credible Witnesses: The identity of the signer can be established by the oaths of two credible witnesses whom the notary public does not personally know. The notary public first must establish the identities of the two credible witnesses by the presentation of paper identification documents as listed above (How To Prepare For A Signing). Under oath, the credible witnesses must swear or affirm under penalty of perjury to each of the things sworn to or affirmed by a single credible witness, as set forth above.

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Powers of Attorney - Certifying: A notary public can certify copies of powers of attorney. A certified copy of a power of attorney that has been certified by a notary public has the same force and effect as the original power of attorney (Probate Code section 4307). ​

 

Notarization of Incomplete Documents: A notary public may not notarize a document that is incomplete. If presented with a document for notarization, which the notary public knows from their experience to be incomplete or is without doubt on its face incomplete, the notary public must refuse to notarize the document.

 

Certified Copies: A notary public may only certify copies of powers of attorney. Certified copies of birth, fetal death, death, and marriage records may be made only by the State Registrar, by appointed and acting local registrars during their term of office, and by county recorders.

 

Immigration Documents: There is no prohibition against notarizing immigration documents. However, several laws specifically outline what a notary public can and cannot do. Only an attorney, a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice, or a person who is registered by the California Secretary of State and bonded as an immigration consultant under the Business and Professions Code may assist a client in completing immigration forms.

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