New York notaries are empowered by the NY Secretary of State to administer oaths and affirmations (including oaths of office), to take affidavits and depositions, to receive and certify acknowledgments or proofs (of execution) of deeds, mortgages and powers of attorney and other instruments in writing; to demand acceptance or payment of foreign and inland bills of exchange, promissory notes and obligations in writing, and to certify them for non-acceptance or non-payment. They are not authorized to perform a civil marriage ceremony, nor certify "true copies" of certain publicly recorded documents.