What is the significance of verifying a signer's identity?

Verifying a signer's identity is crucial primarily to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the documents being notarized. This practice safeguards against impersonation and confirms that the person signing is indeed who they claim to be. An effective verification process protects the interests of all parties involved and upholds the legal standards that govern notarization. By ensuring that the signer’s identity is authentic, a notary contributes significantly to the validity of the notarized documents, thus promoting trust in the legal process.

While expediting the notarization process, building trust with clients, and maintaining a notary journal are important aspects of a notary's duties, those elements are secondary to the fundamental purpose of identity verification. Without proper verification, the risk of fraud increases significantly, which can lead to legal disputes and damage the notary's credibility. Hence, the practice of verifying a signer's identity is primarily aimed at preventing fraud and ensuring the integrity of the notarization process.