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Notary Bulletin

May I Notarize An Undated Document?

By NNA Staff on March 23, 2017

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Is it okay to notarize a document that has no date? If yes, how do I record the document date in my journal? — R.Z. CA

Yes, you may notarize a document without a date. A document is not required to have a document date in order for you to notarize it.  You may print “no date” under document date column in your journal.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

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8 Comments

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Artur Oktanyan

27 Mar 2017

If there is no printed date on the document but the signer puts a date after the signature, do I record that date in my journal or do I still record no date?

National Notary Association

28 Mar 2017

Hello. To help us answer your question can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

Terri

10 May 2017

I see so many questions on your site that go unanswered because the original poster never answers your inevitable (and important) question, "What state are you commissioned in?" Why don't you add that requirement to the "Leave a Comment" section, to avoid this? (By the way -- I'm in California.)

Maria T.C. Cohen

24 May 2017

My client is 100 years old. CA ID HAS EXPIRED. CAN SHE SIGN DOCUMENTS WITH WITH THIS EXPIRED CA ID ?

National Notary Association

25 May 2017

Hello. In order to accept an expired ID in CA for a notarization the ID must have been issued within the past five years. (CC 1185[b])

Carolyn

10 Feb 2020

I agree with Terri's comment of May 2017. There are many good questions that go unanswered because the person asking question never responds to your question of " What state are you commissioned in?" In this LEAVE A COMMENT section, it would save a lot of time and get right tio the point if one of your required (*) questions was: "What state are you commissioned in?"

Artur Oktanyan

09 Nov 2020

I completely agree with Terri. I am the one who asked the initial question and 1) I did not get notified that they has responded with a question (problem) and 2) there is no way to respond to that specific comment (another problem). SO my questions still stands: I am in California. If there is no printed date on the document but the signer puts a date after the signature, do I record that date in my journal or do I still record no date?

National Notary Association

09 Nov 2020

Hello. You may notarize an undated document except when there is a blank space requiring a date that is not completed with a date. In California, Notaries may not notarize a document that contains blank spaces. More information is available here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2019/08/can-i-notarize-a-signature-on-an-undated-document

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