Before completing a notarization, a notary must be satisfied that the signer:

• Understands the document they are signing.
• Is signing voluntarily.
• Is aware of what they are doing.
• Is not being forced, manipulated, or coerced.
• Can communicate their willingness to proceed.

These are not optional considerations. They are part of our duty to help protect the signer, the document, and the public.

When I ask a signer a question, I'm looking for a clear and affirmative response.

Questions such as:

• "Do you understand the document you are signing?"
• "Are you signing this document willingly?"
• "Would you like to proceed with this notarization?"

These questions require a direct answer.

A clear "Yes" tells me the signer understands and agrees to proceed.

A clear "No" tells me the signer does not wish to continue, and the notarization must stop.

What doesn't help are responses like:

• "I guess so."
• "If you say so."
• "Whatever they told me."
• A shrug of the shoulders.
• Silence.
• Looking to someone else in the room to answer.
• Nodding when the situation requires verbal communication.
• Having another person answer on the signer's behalf.

These responses create uncertainty, and uncertainty has no place in a notarization.

As notaries, we cannot assume what someone means.

We cannot interpret a shrug as consent.

We cannot accept a family member's reassurance that "they know what they're signing."

We cannot rely on another person's opinion that the signer is "always like this."

Our responsibility is to communicate directly with the individual whose signature is being notarized.

The decision to sign belongs to them—and only them.

A clear verbal response protects everyone involved.

It protects the signer from unknowingly entering into an agreement they do not understand.

It protects the receiving party by helping ensure the document was executed properly.

It protects the notary by demonstrating that reasonable steps were taken to verify awareness and willingness.

Most importantly, it helps preserve the integrity of the notarization itself.

There are times when a signer cannot provide a clear answer.

Perhaps they appear confused.

Perhaps they drift in and out of conversation.

Perhaps they cannot communicate their wishes in a way that leaves no doubt.

In those moments, the notary has an obligation to pause—or even refuse—the notarization.

This is not about being difficult or insensitive. It's about protecting a person during what may be one of the most important legal or financial decisions of their life.

Completing a notarization without confidence that the signer understands and agrees could have serious consequences for everyone involved.

Every notarization represents trust.

The stamp itself carries legal significance, but what gives it value is the professional judgment exercised before it is ever placed on a document.

That is why a simple question deserves a simple answer.

When a notary asks, "Do you understand?" or "Are you signing willingly?", the appropriate response is a clear "Yes" or "No."

Because in notarization, clarity matters.

Assumptions have no place.

The integrity of the process depends on it.