What does an acknowledgment certify?

An acknowledgment certifies that a signer personally appeared before the notary and acknowledged that they signed the document willingly and for the purposes stated within it. This means the notary has verified the identity of the signer and their intention regarding the signature, thereby providing assurance to anyone who relies on the document that the signer has affirmed its validity.

This process is crucial because it helps prevent fraud and ensures that the document has not been signed under duress or misinformation. The notary's role is to confirm the identity and willingness of the signer, making the acknowledgment a key component of many legal documents. The other choices do not capture the essence of what an acknowledgment accomplishes. For instance, acknowledging a signature does not imply that a document has been filed with any authority or that it inherently possesses legal binding power; those aspects could involve aspects of filing, legality, or validity that go beyond the simple act of acknowledgment performed by a notary.