Part 3, Section 5
Certifying Copy of Power of Attorney

California Notaries Public are allowed to certify copies powers of attorney.
Probate Code § 4307

The procedure for certifying a copy of a power of attorney is to first compare the copy to the original power of attorney to ensure that it is identical.  It is best if you can make the photocopy yourself. 

You must make a journal entry for this certification and, although not required by law it is prudent to secure the identification of the document presenter, same as you would for taking an acknowledgement.

California notaries are only authorized to certify copies of powers of attorney and copies of journal entries for the Secretary of State’s office.  If requested, you must certify any copies of your notarial journal when such request is presented to you with a subpoena duces tecum or court order.

You may from time to time encounter someone who wants you to certify something else, such as a photograph or a copy of a birth certificate.  Of course you cannot comply with such requests.  You may notarize a document such as an affidavit that is attached to photograph or other item, but you cannot possibly authenticate the item itself. 

Such things as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, etc., are kept in the county recorder’s office in the county that the act took place, and you should refer someone seeking a certified copy of any of these items to the county recorder.

CERTIFICATION OF COPY OF POWER OF ATTORNEY

State of California               )

                                            )  ss.

County of (where the           ) 

certificate is being signed)

I, (your name) the undersigned Notary Public, hereby certify that on (date) I examined the original power of attorney, and the attached document is a true, complete, and unaltered photocopy of the original power of attorney presented to me.

___(your signature)______                                     (SEAL)
Signature of Notary

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