No, not necessarily!

The section of your document that reads "State of ______" and "County of ______" is called the venue of the notarial certificate.

This section identifies the state and county where the notarization takes place. It does not automatically mean that your document must be notarized by a notary commissioned in the state already printed on the document.

Many documents are prepared with a state or county already filled in because the document preparer assumes the signer will use a notary in that location.

Here's what you should know:

• Preprinted information: The state and county may already be listed, but that does not necessarily restrict where the document can be notarized.

• The notary's responsibility: The notary is responsible for ensuring the notarial certificate accurately reflects the appropriate venue for the notarization.

• Remote Online Notarization: When I perform a remote online notarization as a Florida-commissioned Remote Online Notary, I must be physically located in Florida. The notarial certificate must reflect the appropriate Florida venue, even if you are signing from another state.

• Corrections: If the preprinted venue is incorrect, it may need to be corrected or replaced with an appropriate notarial certificate, depending on the document and applicable requirements.

Important: Certain documents or receiving agencies may have specific requirements. Always confirm any special notarization instructions with the party requesting your document.

The bottom line: Just because your document says "State of New York," "State of Georgia," or another state above the notary signature does not automatically mean you must find a notary in that state. That section identifies the venue of the notarization, not necessarily where your document must be used or where you must be located.