308 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 174

sioned or accredited to act at the place where the acknowledg-
ment is taken, and having an official seal, viz: any consular
officer of the United States; a notary public; or a commissioner
or other agent of this State having power to take acknowledg-
ments to deeds.

(2) Every certificate of acknowledgment, made without the
United States, shall contain the name or names of the person
or persons making the acknowledgment, the date when and
place where made, a statement of the fact that the person or
persons making the acknowledgment knew the contents of the
instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his, her or their
act; the certificate shall also contain the name of the person
before whom made, his official title, and be sealed with his
official seal and may be substantially in the following form:
........................ (name of county).

........................ (name of city, province or other

political subdivision).
Before the undersigned................................

(naming the officer and designating his official title) duly com-
missioned (or appointed) and qualified, this day personally
appeared at the place above named......................

(naming the person or persons acknowledging who declared
that he (she or they) knew the contents of the foregoing in-
strument, and acknowledged the same to be his (her or their)
act.

Witness my hand and official seal this..............

day of..................., 19....

........................ (name of officer).

......................... (official title).

(seal)

When the seal affixed shall contain the name or the official
style of the officer, any error in stating, or failure to state other-
wise the name or the official style of the officer, shall not
render the certificate defective.

(3) A certificate of acknowledgment of a deed or other in-
strument acknowledged without the United States before any
officer mentioned in section 1 shall also be valid if in the same
form as now is or hereafter may be required by law, for an
acknowledgment, within this state.

Approved April 4th, 1916.