We had someone notarize a document that we no longer need to be notarized. Is it acceptable to simply remove the notarial certificate, or would that cause an issue for the Notary, since it has been recorded in their journal? — J. A., California
No, you should never remove the notarial certificate from a document that has been validly notarized. Not only would that circumvent a valid and legal notarial act, but if the document was ever litigated, the Notary would have a record of the notarial act in the journal, and this could create possible consequences of tampering for you. There is generally no harm in notarizing a document. Notarization adds a layer of security to the execution of the document.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
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