What must notaries do to ensure a notarization is valid?

To ensure a notarization is valid, notaries must verify the identity of the signer and comply with legal requirements. This crucial step involves confirming that the person appearing before the notary is indeed who they claim to be, often through valid forms of identification such as a driver's license or passport. This verification helps to prevent fraud and ensures that the document being notarized is signed willingly and knowingly by the appropriate individual.

Moreover, complying with legal requirements means that the notary must follow specific procedures mandated by state laws regarding the notarial act. This includes completing the notary journal entries and ensuring that the proper acknowledgments are made. All of these actions contribute to the integrity of the notarization process and uphold the trust placed in notaries as impartial witnesses to the signing of important documents. Thus, the combined elements of identity verification and adherence to legal protocols are essential for a valid notarization.