The Certificate of Official Character is optional, but if filed by a notary will achieve with of the following?
The Certificate of Official Character only verifies the notary's signature in the county of filing.
Executive Law § 132 permits a notary to file an autograph signature and certificate of official character with any county clerk in the state, not just the county of appointment. Once filed, that clerk may certify the notary’s official character, so the signature becomes available on file in that additional county as well as the county of qualification.
The Certificate of Official Character does not involve filing signatures in multiple counties.
The notary's signature is filed with the county clerk, not in the closest counties.
Explanation
Section 132 says a notary may file “their autograph signature and a certificate of official character in the office of any county clerk of any county in the state,” and then “such county clerk may certify as to the official character of such notary public.” Filing it therefore places the notary’s signature on file in that county in addition to the county of qualification.