Boxed Notice (Certificate Disclaimer)

Both an acknowledgment certificate (Civil Code §1189) and a jurat (Government Code §8202) must display the following statement in an enclosed box at the top of the certificate, before any substantive language:

"A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document."

The notice must be legible. Its function is to put readers — including courts, recorders, and third parties — on clear notice that a notary's seal authenticates the signer's identity, nothing more. It does not mean the underlying document is accurate, enforceable, or legal.

Pre-printed California acknowledgment and jurat forms include this language. When a notary prepares or attaches a loose certificate, including it is their responsibility. County recorders may reject documents where the boxed notice is absent or illegible.

Exam Tip: Both acknowledgments and jurats require this notice — not just one or the other. A common distractor answer suggests it applies only to acknowledgments. It applies to both. The notice does not signal that the notary verified the document's content.