Certificate Wording and Notarial Language Flashcards

What should an Oregon notary do if a document they are asked to notarize is written entirely in a foreign language?

Answer: Notarize the document if the notarial act itself (what the notary is certifying) is clear, even if the body text is in another language

Oregon notaries may notarize foreign-language documents as long as they can properly perform the notarial act — they are certifying the act, not the document's content.

What should an Oregon notary do if a notarial certificate is on a separate loose sheet rather than attached to the document?

Answer: Attach the completed certificate to the document so it cannot be separated and applied to a different document

A notarial certificate on a separate page must be physically attached to the document it relates to so it cannot be removed and fraudulently attached to a different document.

In Oregon, may a notary change or alter the wording of a statutory notarial certificate form?

Answer: Yes — notaries may adapt the language as long as the certificate accurately reflects the act and meets legal requirements

Oregon notaries may modify the statutory certificate language if the adapted version accurately describes the notarial act performed and meets the legal requirements.

An Oregon notary signs and seals a notarial certificate but then realizes they forgot to write the date. What should the notary do?

Answer: Contact the signer and, if possible, correct the certificate by adding the correct date and initialing the addition

A missing date should be corrected as soon as possible by adding the correct date and initialing the addition after contacting the signer to ensure the correction is proper.

Which of the following certificate elements is specific to a jurat and does NOT appear in an Oregon acknowledgment certificate?

Answer: Language indicating the signer was sworn or affirmed to the truth of the document

Language about swearing or affirming the truth of the document is specific to a jurat; acknowledgment certificates do not include oath language.

What action must an Oregon notary take when completing a notarial certificate to ensure the certificate cannot be completed at a later date with false information?

Answer: Complete all required blanks at the time of the notarial act, drawing a line through any unused spaces

Oregon notaries should complete all certificate blanks at the time of the act and draw a line through unused spaces to prevent later unauthorized additions.