Which information must the notarial certificate include?

• A. The exact date of the notarial act
• B. A description of the act
• C. The exact date of the notarial act and a description of the act
• D. The county where the act was performed

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that a notarial certificate must clearly show when the notarization happened and what specific action the notary performed. The exact date ties the certificate to a particular moment, establishing when the signer appeared before the notary. The description of the act identifies the nature of the notarial action—whether the signer acknowledged the document, swore to it, or subscribed and sworn, for example. Together, these elements make the certificate precise and verifiable, so the instrument is correctly authenticated.

If only the date were stated, you’d know when it occurred but not what was done; if only a description were given, you’d know the act but not when it happened. Including both provides a complete, unambiguous record of the notarization. The county is typically part of the certificate form as the venue, but the essential pieces highlighted here are the exact date and the description of the act.