23/04/2026
Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act โ Why This Document Matters
Many people do not realize this, but before a document can be notarized, the notary public must have a valid Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act. This is not just a formality. This is a legal requirement under the Notarial Rules.
Firstly, what is a Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act?
This is the authority issued by the Executive Judge to a commissioned Notary Public allowing him or her to perform notarial acts within a specific territorial jurisdiction and during a specific period. Without this certificate, a lawyer cannot notarize documents even if he is a lawyer.
Secondly, why is this important?
If a document is notarized by a person who has no valid notarial commission or no Certificate of Authority, the notarization can be considered invalid. This can cause serious legal problems because a notarized document becomes a public document and is admissible in court without further proof of authenticity.
Thirdly, common problems if there is no authority:
1.) The document may be considered not notarized.
2.) The document may not be accepted in court.
3.) The document may be rejected by the Registry of Deeds, banks, or government agencies.
4.) The notary public may face administrative sanctions.
Practical advice:
Before having a document notarized, make sure that:
a.) The notary public has a valid notarial commission.
b.) The notary public has a valid Certificate of Authority.
c.) The document is entered in the notarial register.
d.) You personally appear before the notary public with valid ID.
Notarization is not just a signature and a stamp. It is a legal process that converts a private document into a public document. If done incorrectly, the document can become legally useless.