An authentication certificate is the practical document issued by a county clerk under Executive Law §133. It states, in substance, that the notary’s commission or certificate of official character is on file, that the notary was authorized to act at the relevant time, and that the signature appears genuine based on the autograph signature filed in the clerk’s office.
For New York notaries, this is one of the standard post-notarization documents people request when a notarized instrument will be used elsewhere. It is also a classic exam trap because of the fee: the statutory amount is $3, which is easy to confuse with the $1 fee tied to a certificate of official character under Executive Law §132.
Why it matters: The authentication certificate does not create the notarial act. It confirms the notary’s authority after the act has already been completed.
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