Key Takeaways
- Every notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate signed and dated by the notary
- Required elements include: date, notary signature, printed name, expiration date, seal, and jurisdiction
- The certificate must be attached to or made part of the document
- Different notarial acts require different certificate wording
- Remote online notarizations require additional certificate statement
Notarial Certificates
Under Hawaii Administrative Rules Section 5-11-8, every notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate that meets specific requirements.
Required Certificate Elements
Every notarial certificate must include:
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Date | Date the notarial act was performed |
| Signature | Notary's official signature |
| Printed name | Notary's name in legible print |
| Expiration date | Commission expiration date |
| Seal/Stamp | Official notary seal or stamp |
| Jurisdiction | Identification of Hawaii as jurisdiction |
| Document identification | Description or title of document notarized |
Certificate Attachment
The notarial certificate must be:
- Attached to the document, OR
- Made a part of the document, OR
- Included on a separate page stapled/bound to document
Certificate Wording by Act Type
Acknowledgment Certificate
Typical language for an acknowledgment:
STATE OF HAWAII County of ____________
On this _____ day of _________, 20, before me personally appeared ____________, to me known (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.
Jurat Certificate
Typical language for a jurat:
STATE OF HAWAII County of ____________
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _____ day of _________, 20, by ____________.
Remote Online Notarization Certificates
For notarial acts performed using communication technology (RON), the certificate must include an additional statement substantially as follows:
"This notarial act involved the use of communication technology."
Certificate Errors
What to Do If You Make an Error
| Error Type | Correction Method |
|---|---|
| Minor clerical error | Draw single line through, initial and date |
| Significant error | Complete new certificate |
| Wrong notarial act | Do not notarize; explain correct act needed |
| Incomplete certificate | Complete all required elements before signing |
Never Do This
- Never use white-out or correction fluid
- Never leave blanks in a certificate
- Never pre-sign or pre-stamp certificates
- Never backdate a certificate
Certificate Best Practices
- Complete all blanks before signing
- Use permanent ink for your signature
- Apply seal clearly so all information is readable
- Match the act - use correct certificate for the notarial act performed
- Keep certificate with document - attach securely
Standard Certificate Forms
The Hawaii Attorney General's office provides standard certificate forms in the Notary Public Manual for:
- Acknowledgments (individual)
- Acknowledgments (representative capacity)
- Jurats
- Copy certifications
- Other notarial acts
On the Exam
Key points:
- Know the required elements of every certificate
- Understand different wording for acknowledgments vs. jurats
- Remember RON certificates need additional statement
- Never leave blanks or use correction fluid
What must be included in every Hawaii notarial certificate?
What additional statement is required for remote online notarization certificates?