The date is an extremely important part of performing a notary act. As a notary, it is my job to ensure that the date reflect the date on which the signer personally appeared before me. This is particularly important when administering an oath or affirmation. If the document has been previously signed, I will have the individual re-sign the document next to the original signature. However, when it comes to an acknowledgment, the rules may be different….
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An acknowledgment basically states that the person signing has voluntarily signed the document without coercion, duress, stress, etc. This means that technically, the document could have been previously signed before meeting the notary. As long as the individual has personally appeared in front of the notary on that specific date and time, and can ‘acknowledge’ that it is indeed their signature, the signature can be a day, a week, a month, or even years prior to the date of the notarial act.

So what is the best guarantee? If you are unsure about when it is or isn’t okay to sign before meeting the notary, the best bet is just to wait and sign in the presence of the public official. It is also important to note that backdating is illegal, unethical and not allowed. The date should ALWAYS be accurate!

I often get asked questions on what exactly does it mean to be a notary so I’ve dedicated this short blog post to explain.

A notary public is an official appointed by the Secretary of State to serve the public as an impartial witness. The purpose is to deter fraud and fraudulent acts when signing important documents. A notary also identifies and attests that the person who is signing the document is in fact, the right person (you are who you say you are). A notary ensures that the signer is not signing under force, stress or duress and is aware of the contents of the document they are signing. A notary can also administer oaths. In my notary career, I have had the privilege of signing many exciting, life-changing documents including administering oaths to new lawyers beginning their law career. As a notary, it is always nice to be a part of a special moment or memory!