What is to be added to the notary's official signature?

• A. The notary's home address
• B. The date the commission expires
• C. The notary's social security number
• D. The commission number

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a notary’s authority comes from the commission, and that authority has an end date. When a notary signs a document, adding the date the commission expires shows that the notary was empowered at the time of notarization and helps third parties verify the validity of the notarization. This expiration date is the piece that confirms the notary’s active status during the signing.

Other details like the home address don’t affect the validity of the notarization and aren’t used to prove authority. A social security number is sensitive personal information and has no role in establishing a notary’s authority. The commission number is useful for records and identification, but it isn’t typically added to the signature line itself; it’s usually associated with the seal or official records, not the signature.

In practice, you’ll often see the notary’s signature accompanied by the commission expiration date on the certificate, or the certificate will explicitly state when the commission expires, ensuring the notarization is clearly tied to an active commission.