When can you not notarize a document?

Reasons to refuse a notarization for your own protection may include: The document does not have a prepared notary certificate, and the signer cannot tell you what notarial act is required. You believe that the signer is being coerced or does not understand the consequences of signing the document.

Can I notarize a pre dated document?

Backdating a document may seem harmless enough, but under no circumstances should a notary public include a date other than the current date of the signing. Backdating is both unethical and, more importantly, illegal. Including a prior date on the document can come back to haunt notaries later down the road.

Can you notarize a document that wasn’t signed in front of you?

One of the main ways that a notary prevents fraud in written transactions is to require that the document signer personally appear before the notary at the time of the notarization. In fact, the law prohibits a notary from notarizing a signature if the signer is not present.

Can you notarize an incomplete document?

Notarizing Incomplete Documents You should not notarize an incomplete document because of the risk of potential fraud. In California, the Secretary of State’s 2021 Notary Public Handbook instructs Notaries to refuse to notarize if the Notary knows a document is incomplete.

Can you post date a document?

You cannot post-date a contract the way you post-date a check. The contract will be enforceable from the date you sign it, and by making a false assertion when you sign it by incorrectly dating it, you may be creating a legal headache for…

Can you notarize a document with blank spaces?

You may be asked to notarize one signature on a document that includes additional, blank signature spaces. If you are asked to notarize such a document, it is OK to proceed without filling in the blanks in a section reserved for official use.

Can you notarize a family member’s signature?

“In California, a notary public is not prohibited from notarizing for relatives or others, unless doing so would provide a direct financial or beneficial interest to the notary public. So if you need a document notarized in California, it’s possible to contact your family member.

Is it legal to post date a legal document?

Conclusion. Signing agents cannot sign post-dated documents as these documents are not considered valid as per the law of the state. However, this should not worry you as there are remedies for this by fixing the date before it is too late.

Is Post Dating legal?

Postdating a check is done by writing a check for a future date instead of the actual date the check was written. It is legal for an individual to postdate a check, as well as for a bank to cash or deposit it.