For a valid notarial certificate, who should perform the completion?

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

Answer: (C)

Completing the notarial certificate is the notary’s responsibility because the certificate is the official record of the notarization itself. After verifying the signer’s identity and witnessing the signing, the notary must fill in the certificate with the details of the act, sign it, and affix the seal to certify that the notarization occurred correctly. The signer’s role is limited to signing the underlying document; they do not fill out the certificate. A witness or the signer’s attorney is not the person authorized to complete a standard notarial certificate. In short, the notary alone completes the certificate to ensure the act’s accuracy and authority.