California Notary Public ExamAcknowledgments and Proofs of ExecutionEasy
A California Notary Public is presented with a document for an acknowledgment. The signer has already signed the document, and states they will not sign it again. The Notary verifies the signer's identity and confirms the signature on the document is indeed theirs. What is the Notary's next required action for a proper acknowledgment?
- ARefuse to perform the acknowledgment because the signer will not re-sign.
- BComplete the acknowledgment certificate, omitting the date of notarization.
- CAdminister an oath or affirmation to the signer regarding the signature.
- DStrike through the existing signature and have the signer re-sign in the Notary's presence.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Administer an oath or affirmation to the signer regarding the signature.
For an acknowledgment, if the signer has already signed the document, the Notary must administer an oath or affirmation to confirm the signer's identity and that the signature is theirs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Refusal is not necessary if the signer is present and willing to take an oath/affirmation.
- B. Omitting the date of notarization is incorrect and would invalidate the certificate.
- D. Having the signer re-sign is not required for an acknowledgment; an oath/affirmation suffices for an already-signed document.
Acknowledgment Verbal Affirmation
When a signer appears before a Notary for an acknowledgment of an already-signed document, the Notary must administer an oath or affirmation to confirm the signature's authenticity.
- Required for already-signed documents.
- Confirms signer's identity and signature.
- Verbal affirmation by signer is key.
Memory trick: Always Confirm Signer's Identity and Intent, especially when already signed.