What does a notarial certificate certify?

A notarial certificate serves as a formal statement prepared by a notary public that provides details regarding the notarial act that was performed. This includes critical information such as the date of the notarization, the title of the official (notary), the identity of the person who signed the document, and a description of the document that was notarized. The purpose of the notarial certificate is to provide evidence that a notarial act took place and to give assurance regarding the integrity of the process.

While the identity of a signer in legal documents is an important aspect of notarial acts, it is specifically encapsulated within the broader context of the details included in the notarial certificate. It does not extend to certifying a person's financial status or a property's market value, which are unrelated to the function of notarization. Therefore, the certification of the details of the notarial act performed is the most accurate and encompassing choice regarding what a notarial certificate certifies.