Legal Definitions - certificate of authority

A certificate of authority is a legal document that serves as proof that a notarized document is authentic and valid.

If you need to send a notarized document to another state or country, you may need a certificate of authority. This certificate assures the recipient that the notary public who notarized the document has a valid commission.

A certificate of authority can also refer to a document issued by a state agency, usually the secretary of state, that grants an out-of-state corporation the right to do business in the state.

These examples illustrate how a certificate of authority can be used to verify the authenticity of a document or grant a corporation the legal right to operate in a different state.