Must a notary public actually sign the notarial certificate when notarizing a signature?
Yes. When notarizing a signature, you are required by law to date, sign, and affix your seal to a notarial certificate. See 117.05(3)(a) and (4), Fla. Stat. This is in addition to the requirements that your notary seal contain your exact commissioned name and that you must print, type, or stamp your name below your signature. These provisions of the law ensure the ability to identify the notary, if necessary, and confirm that the notary is the person who completed the notarial certificate and affixed the notary seal.
Related Questions
- If I am notarizing a signature on a document that has a preprinted notarial block do I use that or do I have to use a particular format?
- May a notary public notarize a document which does not contain a notarial certificate after the signature line?
- Must a notary public actually sign the notarial certificate when notarizing a signature?
