What identifies the notary in a notarial certificate?

The notary's official signature is a crucial element in a notarial certificate because it serves as a verification of the notary's identity and their authority to perform notarial acts. The signature indicates that the notary has witnessed the signing of the document and has completed the required procedures in accordance with the law. This signature is unique to each notary and is often accompanied by a seal, further establishing authenticity.

In the context of the other options, while the notary's commission number can provide a link to their qualifications, it does not identify the notary directly in the way that their signature does. The type of notarization performed and the address where the notarization occurred are also important details but do not serve to identify the notary themselves. Therefore, the notary's official signature is the key component that confirms their identity in the notarial certificate.