What documentation is needed for a notary to authenticate a document?

For a notary to authenticate a document, it is essential to have the original document that is to be notarized. The primary role of a notary is to verify the identity of the signer and their willingness to sign the document, and this process revolves around the actual document itself. The original document contains all the necessary information for the notarization process and serves as the basis for the notary's certification.

While other options might seem relevant, they do not meet the fundamental requirement for the notarization process. A written request from the signer is not necessary, as the act of notarization itself is contingent upon the presence of the original document. A government-issued ID of the notary is not required because it is the signer’s identification that must be verified, not the notary’s. Additionally, the presence of witnesses can be important for certain types of documents, but they are not a general requirement for the notarization process itself. Thus, possessing the original document is the most crucial element in establishing validity during the notarization.