What is a notary public not permitted to certify about a document?

A notary public is responsible for certifying that certain conditions are met during the notarization process, specifically regarding the identity of the signer and their willingness to sign the document. However, when it comes to certifying that a document is an original or a true copy, a notary is not authorized to make such claims.

The role of a notary is primarily to witness the signing of documents and to affirm that the person signing is indeed who they claim to be, and they are signing voluntarily. When a notary certifies that a document is a true copy, they would need to verify the accuracy and originality of the document itself, which extends beyond their responsibilities. Notaries do not authenticate documents but rather affirm the identity of signers and the circumstances of the signing.

In contrast, notaries can confidently certify that a document is signed and that the signer was present at the time of notarization. They can also verify that the signer understands the document being signed, but they do not bear responsibility for confirming the factual accuracy of the information within the document itself. Thus, a notary public cannot certify that the information contained in a document is accurate, as that would require expertise and knowledge beyond the scope of their authority.