Ohio Notary Practice Exam

What is required before a notary can perform a notarization?

1. Awareness of the client's background

2. Proper identification of the signer

3. Approval from a legal authority

4. Context of the document subject

The correct answer is: Proper identification of the signer

The correct answer emphasizes the necessity for a notary to confirm the identity of the signer before executing any notarization. Proper identification is crucial because the primary role of a notary is to verify that the person signing the document is who they claim to be. This process helps prevent fraud and ensures the integrity of the notarization process. The other choices, while potentially relevant to broader considerations in various contexts, do not address the fundamental requirement in the notarial process. For example, awareness of the client's background may be useful for understanding the context of a notarization but it is not a formal requirement. Similarly, approval from a legal authority is not typically needed for a notary to act, as the notary functions independently within the scope of their authority. Lastly, while context of the document subject can play a role in understanding the notarization's purpose, it is not a prerequisite for the act of notarization itself. Thus, the necessity of proper identification stands as the key requirement for any notarization.