§ 1451 Acknowledgment Certificate Evidence

Evidence Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•If you sign a paper (not a will) and someone official watches you sign it, they write a note saying they saw you sign it.
•That note is like proof that you really signed it and that your signature is real.
•The note has to follow certain rules to count as proof.

Example

You sell your bike to your friend and sign a paper saying you got the money.

If a notary watches you sign the paper and writes a note about it, that note helps prove you really signed it and got the money.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1451 Acknowledgment Certificate Evidence

A certificate of the acknowledgment of a writing other than a will, or a certificate of the proof of such a writing, is prima facie evidence of the facts recited in the certificate and the genuineness of the signature of each person by whom the writing purports to have been signed if the certificate meets the requirements of Article 3 (commencing with Section 1180) of Chapter 4, Title 4, Part 4, Division 2 of the Civil Code. (Enacted by Stats. 1965, Ch. 299.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

certificate of the acknowledgment prima facie evidence Article 3

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Evidence Code. Section 1451.

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References