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If the document requires an acknowledgment in order for it to be legal then the answer is no. A notary who acknowledges a document that was not signed in her/his presence is in violation of the law and should be reported to the state attorney general or to the court of jurisdiction.

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15y ago
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5d ago

If a Notary Public does not personally witness a signature, it may not be considered legally notarized. Notaries are responsible for verifying the identity of signers and witnessing the signing of the document to prevent fraud.

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13y ago

Yes, they must - AND ask for identification from the person signing so that they can attest to the fact that they are certain it was signed by the proper person.

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6y ago

When attesting to a true signature, the document is to be signed in the presence of the notary.

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13y ago

Yes, that is the procedure.

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Q: If a Notary Public does not personally witness a signature is the document legal?
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Related questions

Is it legal to witness a signature on a document if the signatory is not present?

Anyone who actually witnesses the person signing can be a signature witness. Only a notary can notarize the signature, and only if the document is signed in front of them.


Can an ohio notary notarize a kentucky title?

A notary does not "notarize the title" itself, a notary's job is to "notarize the signature" of the person who is signing their signature on the document(s). They are just a State certified 'witness' to the authentication of the signature on the document(s).


DOES a notarized document become a binding contract?

The notary seal and notary's signature does not make a document a binding contract. The signatures on a contract can be notarized. However, when a document if notarized, the notary is simply stating that to the best of their knowledge the signature is that of the person signing the document. In other words, the notary verifies a signature that they witness. A contract would be binding once the participants sign it in front of the notary and the document is notarized.


Can a Virginia Notary notarize a document that is to be recorded in another state if the document is signed and notarized in Virginia?

Yes, a Virginia Notary can notarize a document to be recorded in another state if the document is signed and notarized in Virginia. However, it is important to verify the specific requirements of the receiving state regarding out-of-state notarizations to ensure compliance.


Can a notary spouse witness a document?

Unless specifically forbidden to do so by state statute a Notary Public, by their very office, IS a witness to the document. The signatory swears in front of the Notary that whatever is in the document that they are signing is the truth, and then signs it in front of the Notary, who then puts their seal and signature on it.


Can a notary also witness a will?

The notary should not also witness a document. If they aren't going to be the notary then they can be a witness.


Can a Florida notary also witness a will?

No, in Florida a notary public cannot act as a witness for a will. Witnesses for a will must be individuals who do not have a personal interest in the will and meet specific legal requirements outlined in the Florida statutes.


Can a notary notarize a document for family member in Georgia?

A notary does not notarize a document. A notary notarizes a signature. The notary is not prohibited from notarizing a family member's signature.


Can a notary in Georgia notarize a document for a family member?

A notary does not notarize a document. A notary notarizes a signature. The notary is not prohibited from notarizing a family member's signature.


How do you get a document notarized for someone else in Georgia?

If by "notarized" you mean taking an acknowledgment such as on a deed or mortgage or administering an oath such as on an affidavit, you cannot get it done for another person because the notary is required to personally witness the signing. If by "notarized" you mean simply attesting to the validity of a signature, you can get it done for another person, because that type of notarial act may be done based on the notary's personal knowledge or other satisfactory proof of the person's signature. For example if a notary is attesting to a signature and personally knows the person's signature, the notary may attest to the signature but may not complete an acknowledgment that the person signed it in his/her presence.


Can a notary notorize a document for a ill family member?

No. Most states specifically prohibit notaries from notarizing the signatures of their immediate family. Even in states where it is not specifically prohibited, notarizing the signature of a family member almost always creates a conflict of interest in which the notary can not notarize.


On a claim form is a witnessed signature the same as a notarized signature?

No, it is not the same. A signature that is merely witnessed by some other person is referred to as an "attested" signature. A notarized signature is where the signature is witnessed by a notary public with the notary affixing the appropriate stamp and seal on the document that was signed.If the claim form simply has another line for a witness to sign, it does not have to be by a notary unless the claim form specifically states that it must be by a notary.