Can a certificate of acknowledgment be added at a later time?

A certificate of acknowledgment cannot be added at a later time because it must be completed at the time of the notarization. The certificate serves to confirm that the signer appeared before the notary public and acknowledged their signature on the document. If the acknowledgment is not completed in conjunction with the notarization, it undermines the integrity of the notarial act, as it cannot be verified that the signer was in the presence of the notary during the execution of the document.

This requirement upholds the principle that the notary is a neutral witness to the signing process, ensuring that the acknowledgment is tied directly to the events occurring during the notarization. Adding a certificate after the fact would risk creating ambiguities about the legitimacy of the signature and the circumstances under which it was signed, leading to potential legal disputes.