New York State Notary Practice Exam 2025 - Free Notary Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer indicates that if a person does not appear before the notary, the certificate is considered fraudulent. This is because the notarization process requires the personal appearance of the signatory in front of the notary public. The notary must verify the identity of the person signing the document and ensure that they are doing so willingly.

If the individual does not physically appear, the notary cannot perform the necessary validation or provide an attest to the authenticity of the signature, which undermines the integrity of the notarization. Therefore, any certificate issued under such circumstances would not hold legal weight and could be deemed fraudulent.

In this context, the other choices do not align with the principles governing notarization. Validity cannot be conferred if the required appearance is missing, pending status implies further action is necessary—which isn't applicable without the personal appearance—and amendment is not an option since notarization's fundamental requirements weren't met.