In a notarial certification, which element must be identified or described and placed in close proximity to the notarial act?

• A. The signer
• B. The notary's address
• C. The document
• D. The date

Answer: (C)

Notarial certification centers on tying the act to a specific paper, so the instrument being notarized must be identified or described and kept close to the notarization. This creates a clear link between the certificate and the exact document it certifies, preventing mix-ups or substitutions. In practice, the certificate refers to the instrument (often calling it the foregoing instrument) and is attached to or printed directly on the document, ensuring the notary’s act and the paper stay together. The other details—who signed, the date, and the notary’s information—are part of the process, but identifying the instrument itself is what binds the notarization to the correct document.