What are the three things you must check when Checking the Document?

• A. Checking for completeness, original signature, and certificate wording.
• B. The inclusiveness of all parties, the date, and the notary's seal.
• C. The document's readability, font size, and margins.
• D. The signer's occupation, age, and residency.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to ensure the document is ready for a valid notarial act by confirming three key elements: completeness, original signature, and certificate wording. Completeness means the instrument should be whole—no blank spaces, missing pages, or missing sections that could hide an alteration. An original signature must appear where required, showing the signer actually signed in front of you or as dictated by the document, so the act isn’t based on copies or forgeries. The certificate wording needs to be correct and complete for the specific notarial act performed (acknowledgment, jurat, etc.), clearly stating the act, the date, the location, and any oath or identity verification elements, so the notarization is properly documented and enforceable.

Other aspects like who is included, the page layout, or the signer’s occupation or age aren’t the core checks for validating the notarization itself.