The venue is determined by:

• A. The notary
• B. The clerk
• C. The state and county where notarization takes place
• D. The signer

Answer: (C)

Venue on a notarial certificate is the place where the notarization occurs—the state and county in which the act is performed. This location shows the jurisdiction under which the notary is acting and where the record belongs. It is not determined by the notary’s personal choice, by the clerk, or by the signer’s address. The important point is that the certificate identifies the actual place of the act, so you would record the state and county where the notarization took place (for Maryland, the county of the notarization). Even if the signer is elsewhere, the venue reflects where the notary administered the oath or acknowledgment.