Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Notaries, Don't Forget The Venue
- Details
- Published: May 18, 2015
Revised 7/10/26
What does Venue Mean?
Venue is the actual location where the notarization takes place.
Where do I state the Venue?
The venue should appear at the beginning of the notarial certificate. It is stated as:
State of _________
County of _______
Why is the Venue Important?
The venue is important because it establishes jurisdiction. It proves that the notarization took place within the geographic boundaries of the notary’s commission. Remember, while your notarial jurisdiction is statewide, the venue still must reflect the specific county where the notarization occurs.
What if the Venue is preprinted on the certificate?
Occasionally, the document preparer may assume the document will be executed in the same city and state as it was drafted and preprint the venue on the notarial certificate. If this is the case, and it is incorrect, simply draw a line through the incorrect city and/or state, and write in the correct city and/or state. Have the signer initial the change as well.
Don’t forget, venue is not where the document was drafted or where it is going. If you are physically in Harrison, Arkansas performing a notarization the correct venue would be State of Arkansas, County of Boone.