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Simple English definitions for legal terms
certificate of magistracy
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A quick definition of certificate of magistracy:
A certificate of magistracy is a document that verifies the authority of a notary public. It is used to authenticate a notarized document that is being sent to another jurisdiction. This certificate assures the recipient that the notary public has a valid commission. It is also known as a certificate of authority, certificate of capacity, certificate of official character, certificate of authentication, certificate of prothonotary, or apostille.
In addition, a certificate of authority can also refer to a document issued by a state agency, usually the secretary of state, granting an out-of-state corporation the right to do business in the state.
A more thorough explanation:
A certificate of magistracy is a type of certificate of authority that authenticates a notarized document being sent to another jurisdiction. It assures the recipient that the notary public has a valid commission. This certificate is also known as a certificate of capacity, certificate of official character, certificate of authentication, certificate of prothonotary, apostille, or verification.
For example, if a notary public in California notarizes a document that needs to be sent to New York, the certificate of magistracy would be attached to the notarized document to assure the recipient in New York that the notary public in California has a valid commission.
Another example of a certificate of magistracy is when a state agency, usually the secretary of state, issues a document granting an out-of-state corporation the right to do business in the state. This document is also considered a certificate of authority.
These examples illustrate how a certificate of magistracy is used to authenticate documents and assure recipients that the notary public or corporation has the legal authority to perform the actions stated in the document.