Florida Notary Practice Exam

Before notarizing a document, what must a notary do with the signer?

1. Collect payment upfront

2. Ask for the nature of the document

3. Verify their knowledge of the document

4. Confirm their identity

The correct answer is: Confirm their identity

The correct answer focuses on the essential duty of a notary to confirm the identity of the signer before proceeding with any notarization. This process is vital to ensuring that the person signing the document is indeed who they claim to be. It helps prevent fraud and protects the integrity of the notarization process. To confirm identity, a notary typically checks a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, which includes a photograph and the signer’s signature. This step is crucial because if the notary fails to properly identify the signer, they could mistakenly notarize a document for someone who is not authorized to sign it, which could lead to legal complications or issues regarding the validity of the document. While collecting payment, asking about the nature of the document, and verifying the signer’s knowledge of the document can be part of the notary's interactions, they do not replace the primary responsibility of confirming the signer’s identity. These other steps may provide additional context, but they are not legally required like verifying identities.