There are certain documents which after being notarized, need to be certified or authenticated. This is performed by the county clerk where the notary is commissioned or has a good character card on file. It is imperative for the signature of the notary on the notarized document, to be a perfect match with the signature on file with the county clerk. For if the signatures on file does not match the notarized document, the document can not be authenticated and must be redone.

The certification or authentication of a document is extremely important because it allows for notarized documents to be recorded. The recordation of a document gives constructive notice to the world that a specific event, transaction or statement was memorialized by the document. Many jurisdictions or document recipients require certification and authentication. In addition, a certified or authenticated document allows a document to be read into evidence. In today’s litigious society, the ability of certain documents to be read into evidence can be crucial for the testimony of any plaintiff or defendant.

New Jersey Mobile Notary Service offers the fastest possible turnaround for documents which need to be authenticated or certified. Our on staff notary public's signatures can be authenticated and certified in the county clerks' offices throughout New Jersey.

• New York County
• Queens County
• Richmond County
• Kings County
• Bronx County
• Nassau County
• Westchester County
• Rockland County

Please view the specific statutes below of the Notary Public License Law, Executive Law 132 and 133, which details Certificates of Official Character.

§132. Certificates of official character of notaries public.

The Secretary of State or the county clerk of the county in which the commission of a notary public is filed may certify to the official character of such notary public and any notary public may file his autograph signature and a certificate of official character in the office of any county clerk of any county in the State and in any register’s office in any county having a register and thereafter such county clerk may certify as to the official character of such notary public.

§133. Certification of notarial signatures.

The county clerk of a county in whose office any notary public has qualified or has filed his autograph signature and a certificate of his official character, shall, when so requested and upon payment affix to any certificate of proof or acknowledgement or oath signed by such notary anywhere in the State of New York, a certificate under his hand and seal, stating that a commission or a certificate of his official character with his autograph signature has been filed in his office, and that he was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement or oath duly authorized to take the same; that he is well acquainted with the handwriting with the autograph signature deposited in his office by such notary public and believes that the signature is genuine. An instrument with such certificate of proof or acknowledgement or oath with the autograph signature deposited in his office by such notary public and believes that the signature is genuine. An instrument with such certificate of authentication of the county clerk affixed thereto shall be entitled to be read in evidence or to be recorded in any of the counties of this State in respect to which a certificate of a county clerk may be necessary for either purpose.