Florida Notary Practice Exam

A notary cannot perform a notarization if the signer is not present at the time of the notarization. One of the fundamental principles of notarization is that the notary must witness the signing of the document by the individual who is executing it. This requirement helps prevent fraud, ensures that the signature is given voluntarily, and confirms the identity of the person signing. If the signer is not physically present, the notary cannot fulfill the legal obligations of their role, as they wouldn't be able to verify the identity of the signer or witness the act of signing.

In contrast, being acquainted with the signer or having a familial relationship does not inherently disqualify a notary from performing their duties, as long as all other requirements are met and the signer is present. Additionally, the notary can only notarize a completed document; if the document is unsigned, it is not yet ready for notarization because the notary's role is to authenticate the act of signing rather than certify the content of a document that has not yet been executed.