If a Notary forgot to sign and notarize a document on January 20, 2020, are they able to sign and notarize the document after the fact a month later, without the customer returning to provide a new signature? — D. R., Florida

No. Florida Statutes 117.107(8) says a Notary may not amend a notarial certificate after the notarization is complete. If a Notary forgot to sign the notarial certificate previously, they would have to perform a new notarization.  This would require that the signer to personally appear before the Notary at the time of the new notarization.

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. PT.