Sometimes students are asked to present a certified and notarized copy of a document. The Registrar’s Office can provide certification and notarization free of charge for any documents issued by our office, such as transcripts, enrollment verifications, and diplomas (including photocopies of your original diploma).

• Certification U.S. certification is the addition by our office of a signed statement to the document indicating that it is an original document (or a true and correct copy) issued by the university.
• Certificate of Notarial Authority, Documents that will require an apostille will be destined for countries that have signed The Hague Convention on Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The Hague Convention, will not receive an apostille but will receive a certificate of notarial authority.
• Notarization is a process in which a notary watches the sign the statement and then places an official stamp or seal near the signature that the document is authentic. Notary takes acknowledgements, administer oaths, make attested photocopies, perform marriages, Change of Name, death certificate, Power of Attorney, etc.

For a complete notarial act, your document(s) should not have any blanks and the certificate of notarial act contains the following information:

1. 1. MUST have a valid U.S. State Driver License or Identification or Passport.
   2. Document(s) must show jurisdiction (state and county) where notarial act was executed;

   A. You will be given a Statement for Certificate of the Notarial Act(AFIVADIT);
   B. Your face-to-face signature and date;
   C. Fingerprint on document(s)
   D. Notary’s signature and date; and
   E. Clear impression of the notary stamp, which includes the commission expiration date.

A notary is prohibited from notarizing a document if:

• The document was not personally signed or resigned in presence of the notary public for a verification on oath or affirmation.
• The document was not personally acknowledged in the presence of the notary to allow for the completion of an acknowledgment.
• The notary’s name or the notary’s spouse’s name appears on the document as a party.
• The notary or the notary’s spouse has a direct beneficial interest.
• The notary is notarizing his or her own signature or the signature of the notary’s spouse.
• The notary uses a name or initial other than what appears on the notary’s commission.
• The date of the verification on oath or affirmation or acknowledgment is not the actual date the document is to be notarized or the verification on oath or affirmation or acknowledgment is undated.
• Any signature on the document is not an original signature.

In certain situations, a notary may not consider it ethical to notarize a document for someone even though the notary is not prohibited from notarizing the document or a notary may simply not want to notarize a document. A notary may refuse to perform a notarial act if:

• 1. The notary believes that the person whose signature is being notarized is not competent or lacks the capacity to execute the instrument;
• 2. If the notary does not believe that the person whose signature is being notarized is executing the instrument knowingly or voluntarily; or for any other reason unless prohibited by law.

International travelers – no problem as long as you have the proper identification for the state

This Notary public is BONDED and Certified by The State of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.