AZ Notary Proper Procedures for Acknowledgments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an Arizona acknowledgment, the signer must appear before the notary to acknowledge that they:
- Read the entire document carefully
- Signed the document voluntarily and it is their free act (Correct answer)
- Agree with all terms in the document
- Will not contest the document in court
Correct answer: Signed the document voluntarily and it is their free act
In an acknowledgment, the signer appears before the notary to confirm that they signed the document voluntarily and that the signature is their free act and deed. The notary doesn't verify the content.
Question 2: Must the signer of an acknowledgment sign the document in the notary's presence in Arizona?
- Yes, always
- No, they may have signed it before appearing before the notary (Correct answer)
- Yes, unless the document was signed within the last 24 hours
- Only for real estate documents
Correct answer: No, they may have signed it before appearing before the notary
Unlike a jurat, an acknowledgment does not require the signature to be made in the notary's presence. The signer may have signed previously and is simply acknowledging the signature before the notary.
Question 3: What must appear on the acknowledgment certificate in Arizona?
- The signer's Social Security number
- The venue (state and county), date, notary's signature, seal, and signer identification (Correct answer)
- The document's legal description only
- A witness signature and notary seal only
Correct answer: The venue (state and county), date, notary's signature, seal, and signer identification
An Arizona acknowledgment certificate must include the venue, date of notarization, the notary's signature and seal, and identification of the signer who appeared before the notary.
Question 4: A signer appears before an Arizona notary for an acknowledgment but cannot produce acceptable photo ID. What should the notary do?
- Proceed based on the signer's verbal assurance
- Use credible identifying witnesses if allowed (Correct answer)
- Accept a utility bill as identification
- Take a photo of the signer instead
Correct answer: Use credible identifying witnesses if allowed
When acceptable photo ID is unavailable, Arizona allows the use of credible identifying witnesses — individuals who personally know the signer and can vouch for their identity under oath.
Question 5: How many credible identifying witnesses are typically needed in Arizona when photo ID is unavailable?
- One witness who has acceptable ID (Correct answer)
- Two witnesses regardless of ID
- One witness, no ID required for the witness
- Three witnesses from the community
Correct answer: One witness who has acceptable ID
Arizona generally requires one credible identifying witness who personally knows the signer and who can present acceptable identification to the notary.
Question 6: After completing an acknowledgment, the notary discovers the date on the certificate is wrong. How should this be corrected?
- Create a completely new certificate
- Draw a line through the error, write the correct date, and initial (Correct answer)
- Use correction fluid to fix the date
- The error cannot be corrected
Correct answer: Draw a line through the error, write the correct date, and initial
The proper correction method is to draw a single line through the incorrect date (keeping it legible), write the correct date nearby, and initial the change. This maintains transparency.
AZ Notary Proper Procedures for Acknowledgments 2
In an Arizona acknowledgment, the signer must appear before the notary to acknowledge that they: