What is a notary's certificate called in court?

• A. Presumptive Evidence
• B. Prima Facie Proof
• C. Affidavit
• D. Public Record

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how a notary’s certificate is treated as evidence in court. In Maryland practice, a notary’s certificate is presumptive evidence of the facts it states—things like that the signer appeared before the notary, that the signer was properly identified, and that the signature was acknowledged or sworn. This means the certificate is taken as true unless someone presents competent evidence to contradict it. It’s not an affidavit, which is a sworn statement by the signer themselves, and it isn’t a blanket “prima facie proof” on its own in the formal sense; the notary’s certificate provides presumptive weight rather than an automatic, unchallengeable conclusion. It also isn’t a public record by itself; the certificate’s role is evidentiary authentication rather than creating a public-record status.