What should a notary do if a signer refuses to be identified or to proceed?

What should a notary do if a signer refuses to be identified or to proceed?

• A. Refuse to notarize and document the refusal
• B. Proceed anyway
• C. Document but not witness signature
• D. Withdraw later

Answer: (A)

Notaries must have a signer personally appear, identify the signer, and proceed willingly with the notarization. If the signer refuses to be identified or to proceed, there is no valid basis to complete the notarization. The proper action is to refuse to notarize and to document the refusal in the notary records, clearly indicating that identification or consent to proceed was withheld. This protects the integrity of the process and provides a clear record of why the act was not performed. Proceeding would undermine identification and consent requirements, so it’s not appropriate. There is no signature to witness if the signer won’t proceed, so documenting a signature without witnessing anything isn’t feasible. Waiting to withdraw later doesn’t resolve the present refusal and would still leave no valid notarial act.

Notaries must have a signer personally appear, identify the signer, and proceed willingly with the notarization. If the signer refuses to be identified or to proceed, there is no valid basis to complete the notarization. The proper action is to refuse to notarize and to document the refusal in the notary records, clearly indicating that identification or consent to proceed was withheld. This protects the integrity of the process and provides a clear record of why the act was not performed.

Proceeding would undermine identification and consent requirements, so it’s not appropriate. There is no signature to witness if the signer won’t proceed, so documenting a signature without witnessing anything isn’t feasible. Waiting to withdraw later doesn’t resolve the present refusal and would still leave no valid notarial act.