Who is allowed to complete a notarial certificate?

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

Answer: (A)

The notarial certificate is the official statement of the notary’s act, so it must be completed by the notary themselves. The certificate records essential details of the notarization—what was done (acknowledgment, jurat, etc.), who appeared, the date and place, and the identity verification—and it carries the notary’s signature and seal to give the act legal authority. The signer may present the document and provide information, but the authority to attest to the act and finalize the certificate rests with the notary. A witness or the signer’s attorney does not have the authority to complete the certificate, since that would place the attestation outside the notary’s official role. In Maryland practice, this ensures the notarization remains a reliable, verifiable public record.