Florida Notary Practice Exam

Is it permissible to amend a document after completing the notarization?

1. Yes, always

2. No, never

3. Yes, with the signer's consent

4. Depends on the document type

The correct answer is: No, never

The correct perspective regarding the amendment of a document after notarization is that it is generally not permissible to amend a document once it has been notarized. The primary role of a notary public is to verify the identity of the signers and witness the signing of the document as it is presented. Once the notary has completed the notarization, the document is considered a finalized version of that record. Notarization serves to provide a level of authenticity and implies that what has been signed is the final agreement between parties at a specific point in time. Changing the document after notarization could lead to questions about the integrity and validity of the document, as it could confuse what was agreed upon at the time of signing. While some might think that consent from the signer (as mentioned in another choice) could allow for amendments to occur post-notarization, that doesn’t hold up because notaries have rules they must follow to ensure the authenticity of documents. Allowing amendments after the signing would undermine the notary's role in ensuring that the document has not been altered. Therefore, the standard practice remains that once a document is notarized, it should not be altered, keeping the integrity of the notarization intact.