What did a County Clerk complete when issuing an Authentication Certificate and charging a $3 fee?
An Authentication Certificate does not involve a notarial acknowledgment.
Judiciary Law §133 authorizes the county clerk, upon payment of a $3 fee, to issue an authentication certificate for a notary whose commission or official-character certificate is on file. The certificate serves to verify the notary’s official status and the genuineness of the signature on the commission record, which is why this option matches the statutory function tied to the fee.
An Authentication Certificate is not a certified copy for court use.
An Authentication Certificate does not involve a jurat, which is for sworn statements.
Explanation
Under §133, the county clerk may, “upon payment of a fee of $3,” affix a certificate stating that the notary’s commission or official-character certificate is on file and that the notary was authorized to act. That is the certificate authenticating the notary public’s commission and signature.