What must a Notary do when acknowledging a document?

When acknowledging a document, the primary responsibility of a notary is to verify the identity of the signer and ensure that they are signing the document voluntarily and with an understanding of its contents. The correct action in this context is for the notary to sign and seal the document, which affirms that they have performed due diligence in confirming the identity of the person who signed the document. This act provides a layer of authentication and ensures that the notary's official capacity is clearly documented.

While collecting a fee is a common practice, it is not a requirement of the acknowledgment process itself. Providing a summary of the document is also not within the notary's duties; their role is not to interpret or summarize the contents but rather to confirm the signer's intention to sign. Verifying the signer's intent is an important step in the acknowledgment process, but it is followed by the notary's official signing and sealing of the document to complete the acknowledgment. Therefore, signing and sealing is the definitive action that concludes the acknowledgment process.