What must a notary do when witnessing a signature?

When witnessing a signature, a notary public must actually observe the individual sign the document. This is a critical aspect of the notary's role, as witnessing the signature ensures that the notary can verify that the signer is indeed the person they claim to be, and they are signing voluntarily and under their own free will. By seeing the signer actually affix their signature, the notary can fulfill their duty to provide a level of assurance regarding the authenticity of the signature, which ultimately promotes trust in the notarized document.

While asking for identification is a part of the notarial process, it must be done in conjunction with witnessing the signing. Notaries are responsible for verifying not only the identity of the signer but also confirming that the signing occurs in their presence. Therefore, a notary must engage in an active role during this process, as simply presuming that the signer has signed without witnessing or securing additional witnesses does not meet the legal requirements for a valid notarization.