California Notary Public ExamAcknowledgments and Proofs of ExecutionMedium
A Notary Public is presented with a document for an acknowledgment. The signer's name on the document is 'Mary J. Smith', but her identification, a California driver's license, shows her name as 'Mary Jane Smith'. The Notary determines that these are indeed the same person. What is the Notary's appropriate action for completing the acknowledgment certificate?
- ARecord both names, separated by a slash ('Mary J. Smith/Mary Jane Smith').
- BRecord the name exactly as it appears on the identification ('Mary Jane Smith').
- CRecord the name exactly as it appears on the document ('Mary J. Smith').
- DRefuse the acknowledgment due to the discrepancy in the middle name.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Record the name exactly as it appears on the document ('Mary J. Smith').
When completing an acknowledgment certificate, the Notary must record the name of the signer exactly as it appears on the document being notarized. The purpose of the acknowledgment is to certify that the person who appeared is the one who signed the document, regardless of slight variations in their full legal name on identification.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Recording both names is not the standard practice and can create ambiguity.
- B. While the ID is used for identification, the certificate itself should match the document's signer name.
- D. A slight discrepancy in the middle name, especially when the Notary is satisfied it's the same person, does not warrant refusal of service.
Acknowledgment Certificate - Signer Name
The name of the signer recorded on an acknowledgment certificate should be the name exactly as it appears on the document being notarized, even if there are slight variations from the identification presented.
- Name on certificate matches document.
- ID confirms person, not exact name match.
- Minor discrepancies are acceptable if identity is confirmed.
Memory trick: The 'Certificate' writes what's on the 'Paper', the 'ID' just shows the 'Person'.