What information does a Maryland notarial certificate typically include?

• A. The document's purpose and content summary.
• B. The notary's fee and contact information.
• C. The notary's act (acknowledgment or jurat) and identifies signer, date, location, and authority.
• D. A summary of the parties' obligations.

Answer: (C)

Maryland notarial certificates are about recording the notarial act and the details that verify it. The certificate states the type of act performed (an acknowledgment or a jurat) and who appeared before the notary, along with when and where the act took place, and under whose authority the notary acted. In practical terms, expect to see the notation of the act, the signer’s identification or personal knowledge, the date, the venue (county), and the notary’s commission authority, followed by the notary’s signature and seal. This combination ensures the act is traceable to the notary and can be trusted as having been done in compliance with Maryland law.

What isn’t typically included in a notarial certificate are the document’s purpose or content summary, the notary’s fee or contact information, or any summary of the contractual obligations of the parties. Those belong to the underlying document or separate administrative details, not to the certificate attesting the notarial act.