The North Carolina notarial certificate for the certification of a Will that has already been executed and attested is attached to a Will and used to provide certified acknowledgement for the document’s signatures. State law does not require a will to be notarized, however, doing so enables the testator’s Will to have a shortened probate process. This shortened process is due to the fact that a notarized will, known as a “self-proving Will,” makes it so the witnesses will not be contacted by the court during probate. A Will requires two (2) witnesses and the testator to provide their signatures. To obtain a self-proving will, all three (3) parties must present themselves before a public notary. The second paragraph of the certificate is what is known as a “jurat” and, in this case, requires the signers to sign an affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the Will and its signing.

Laws – § 10B‑3.8

NORTH CAROLINA NOTARIAL CERTIFICATE

(CERTIFICATION OF WILL ALREADY EXECUTED AND ATTESTED)

 

State of North Carolina }

County of ______________ }

 

Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared _______________________ [Name of Testator], _________________________ [Name of Witness], and ______________________ [Name of Witness], known to me to be the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, and all of these persons being by me first duly sworn. The testator declared to me and to the witnesses as his free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed; or that the testator signified that that the instrument was his/her instrument by acknowledging to them his/her signature previously affixed thereto. The said witnesses stated before me that the foregoing will was executed and acknowledged by the testator as his/her last will in the presence of said witnesses who, in his/her presence and at his/her request, subscribed their names thereto as attesting witnesses and that the testator, at the time of the execution of said will, was over the age of 18 years and of sound and disposing mind and memory.

 

Subscribed, sworn to and acknowledged before me by ______________________, the testator, ______________________, as a witness, and _________________________, as a witness.

 

Witness my hand and official seal, this _____ day of _____________, 20___.

(Official Seal)

_________________________

Official Signature of Notary

_________________________

Notary’s Printed or Typed Name

Notary Public

My Commission Expires: ________________