Ohio Notary Practice Exam

Once a document is signed, what can a notary change?

1. Nothing, changes are not allowed

2. Minor clerical errors only

3. The notary can add notes

4. Details if both parties agree

The correct answer is: Nothing, changes are not allowed

The correct answer is that once a document is signed, a notary cannot make any changes to it. This is fundamental to the integrity of the notarization process. A notary's role is to ensure that the document is executed correctly and that the identities of the signers are verified. Allowing any changes after the fact could compromise the authenticity of the notarization and the document itself. While it may seem that there could be situations where minor clerical errors could be corrected or notes could be added, the notarial process is designed to maintain a clear and unaltered record of the document as it was presented at the time of notarization. Therefore, maintaining the original state of the document after signing is paramount, which aligns with the answer that states nothing can be changed once it is signed.