The primary purpose of an acknowledgment is for the notary to certify that the signer understands the document and signed it willingly. The notary's role is to verify the signer's identity and confirm that the signature is made voluntarily.
When certifying a copy, the notary compares the copy with the original and certifies that it is a true and accurate reproduction. The notary does not provide a new original document; they only certify the accuracy of the copy.
In a jurat, the notary must ensure that the signer swears or affirms the truthfulness of the contents of the document under oath in the notary’s presence. The notary then completes the jurat certificate.
If a signer is physically unable to sign but can make a mark, the notary should have the signer make the mark in the notary’s presence. The notary then performs the notarization as usual, documenting the situation in the notarial journal.
If there is a discrepancy between the name on the document and the name on the ID, the notary should proceed with the notarization but must note the discrepancy in the notarial journal. This documentation provides a record of the issue for future reference.
