How should a notary handle a document that is incomplete?

A notary's role is to verify the identity of the signer and ensure that they are signing a complete and accurate document. Notarizing an incomplete document can lead to legal issues or misunderstandings, as the missing information may alter the intent or content of the document significantly.

When a notary encounters an incomplete document, the best practice is to refuse to notarize it. This action upholds the integrity of the notarization process and protects all parties involved. Notarizing a document that lacks critical information could make the notarization invalid and expose the notary to legal liabilities or repercussions.

The other scenarios, such as completing the document on behalf of the signer or ignoring the incompleteness, compromise the notary's impartiality and could result in improper notarizations. Notaries are not authorized to alter documents or add missing information, as this could be seen as a conflict of interest and may lead to ethical violations. Notarizing an incomplete document without addressing the issue undermines the purpose of the notarization itself, which is to certify the authenticity of a completed and accurate document.