Utah Notary Practice Test

If a document lacks proper notarial certificate language, what must a notary do?

1. Proceed without any changes

2. Ask the signer to choose the appropriate language

3. Refuse to notarize the document

4. Fill in the missing information themselves

The correct answer is: Ask the signer to choose the appropriate language

When a document lacks proper notarial certificate language, the notary's responsibility includes ensuring that the notarization process complies with legal standards. The best course of action is to engage the signer in determining the appropriate notarial language to include. This ensures that the document meets the necessary legal requirements for notarization, as each type of document might require specific language based on its purpose and nature. Involving the signer helps clarify the intentions of the document and allows for proper documentation that accurately reflects the transaction. Furthermore, this approach promotes transparency and protects both the notary and the signer from potential legal issues down the line. It is crucial for notaries to be proactive in ensuring all elements of a notarization are correctly in place before proceeding, as failing to do so could lead to complications or invalidate the notarized document. Choosing options such as proceeding without changes would risk noncompliance with legal requirements, while filling in the missing information themselves may lead to inaccuracies and could pose liability risks for the notary. Refusing to notarize outright might not be necessary if the issue can be resolved collaboratively with the signer.