Minnesota notarial certificates for title companies, lenders, and attorneys who need the right loose certificate on hand — plus a short checklist so your appointment goes smoothly the first time.
The certificates used for most Minnesota notarizations. Download the one your document needs and attach it as a loose certificate.
Please leave these blank. A notarial certificate is completed and signed by the notary at the time of the notarization — not beforehand. Print the one you need, bring it along with your unsigned document, and I’ll fill it in and seal it during the appointment. Choosing which certificate a document requires is a legal decision, so that call has to come from you or from the attorney, title company, or agency that issued the document.
The most common certificate. Used when someone signs on their own behalf and confirms the signature is theirs — deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and most real-estate documents.
Certificate wording“This instrument was acknowledged before me on (date) by (name(s) of individual(s)).”
A longer version of the individual acknowledgment. Along with the signer’s name, it records the title of the document and states that the signer’s identity was proved with satisfactory evidence.
Certificate wording“On this (day) day of (month), 20(year), before me, a Notary Public within and for said county and state, personally appeared (name(s)), who proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the following document: (document title), and acknowledged that he/she/they executed the same for the purposes therein contained.”
Used when someone signs on behalf of another party — as an officer, trustee, attorney-in-fact, or partner. Records both the signer and the entity they represent.
Certificate wording“This instrument was acknowledged before me on (date) by (name(s) of individual(s)) as (type of authority) of (name of party on behalf of whom the instrument was executed).”
Used when the signer must swear or affirm that a statement is true — affidavits, sworn statements, and declarations. The signer must sign in the notary’s presence.
Certificate wording“Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on (date) by (name(s) of individual(s) making statement).”
Used to certify that a photocopy is a true and correct copy of an original the signer holds. Note that vital records such as birth and marriage certificates must come from the issuing agency instead.
Certificate wording“I certify that this is a true and correct copy of a document in the possession of (name(s) of individual(s)).”
A minute of prep saves a return trip. Here’s what to have ready.
The short checklist for any notarization.
I can’t give legal advice or explain what a document means — that’s a job for an attorney. But I’m always happy to talk through how the signing itself will work.
Unexpired, with your photo and signature. Commonly accepted:
No current ID, or a name that doesn’t match the document? There are usually other ways to establish identity — give me a call before the appointment and we’ll sort it out.
Send me the details and I’ll come to you, anywhere in central or western Minnesota. Rates are published, so you’ll know the cost before we schedule anything.