During notarization, who has the authority to complete the notarization certificate?

• A. Only the notary
• B. The signer
• C. A witness
• D. The signer’s attorney

Answer: (A)

The essential point is that the notary is the official responsible for completing the notarization certificate. The certificate is the formal record that the signer appeared before the notary, proved their identity, and signed (or acknowledged) the document in the notary’s presence, with the notary then signing, dating, and applying the seal to certify the act. This completion is a duty of the notary and rationale for the act’s validity; no one else—such as the signer, a witness, or the signer’s attorney—has the authority to fill in or authorize the notarization certificate. In Maryland, the notary’s certificate is the official certification of the notarization, so it must be completed by the notary.