Wills, Health Care Directives ~d Certified Copies 121

ported original document, then affixes, completes and signs

the attested copy certificate to the now attested copy; and
7. the notary public returns the purported original, attested
copy, and receipt for notarial services to the requester.

AFFIDAVIT AND REQUEST FOR

AN ATTESTED COPY

STATE OF
COUNTY OF } sS.:

I, (name and address of requester), being duly sworn de-

pose and say:
1. I am the lawful custodian of the following document: (de-
scription of document);
2. the document is an original and consists of (number)
pages, including cover page(s), if any;
3. a certified copy of the purported original cannot be ob-
tained from the office of any clerk, recorder or register of
public documents, or public records custodian in this or
another state, or the federal government of the U.S. or an-
other nation; and
4. the production of a facsimile, preparation of a copy, or cer-
tification of a copy of the document does not violate any
state or federal law.
5. This request is dated on this (date) day of (month), 1990.
Unless otherwise directed by law, the following certifi-
cate language meets most legal requirements for a notary to
issue an attested copy or copy certification:

STATE OF
COUNTY OF } sS.: COPY
CERTIFICATION

On this (date) day of (month), (year), I, (name of notary public),

a notary public, attest that the preceding or attached document
consisting of (number) page(s) is a true, exact, complete and
unaltered photocopy made by me of (description of docu-
ment), presented to me by the document's custodian, (name of
122 Piombino's Notary Public Handbook
custodian), and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that
the photocopied document is neither a public record nor a
publicly recordable document, of which certified copies are
available from an official source other than a notary public.
EACH PAGE HAS BEEN EMBOSSED WIlH MY OFFICIAL SEAL.
TIIE INK COLOR OF lHIS CERTIFICATION IS GREEN.

Signature of Notary PUblic

To facilitate service requests, it would be advisable to

have an adequate supply of request forms and certificates of
attested copy or copy certification. Notaries are strongly en-
couraged to have the certificate of attested copy form created
as a rubber stamp which would allow the application of the
certification text directly upon the facsimile copy; on multi-
ple-page documents, the certification should be affixed to the
top page. The ink color should not be black to discourage
and hamper unauthorized reproduction of attested copies. If
possible, green ink is ideal, and can be easily accomplished
with a pre-inked or self-inking rubber stamp. Loose certifi-
cates which are typically awkward-sized s~ps of paper re-
quiring attachment by staple are strongly discouraged. The
application of the certificate of attested copy or copy certifi-
cation by rubber stamp creates a permanent, indelible im-
pression which is virtually tamper-proof without detection,
lowers cost and greatly reduces the time required to perform
the service.

CHAPtER 10 QUESTIONS
1. Is it legally necessary for a notary public to be involved in
the execution of a last will and testament? Explain why.
2. Define "testator" and "testatrix".
3. What is a "subscribing witness"? What other legal terms
are given to this person?
4. What is a "decedent"?
5. In what unusual situation might a notary public be called
upon to take a last will and testament? What other legal term