New York State Notary Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A notary may delay notarization if the signer does not have the correct identification. The primary responsibility of a notary public is to confirm the identity of the individual who is signing a document. Proper identification ensures that the notary can authenticate that the signer is who they claim to be, thereby preventing fraud. Without appropriate identification, such as a government-issued ID that includes a photo and signature, the notary cannot proceed with the notarization.

Other factors such as being busy with other clients, the complexity of a document, or personal hesitation may impact a notary's ability to provide service efficiently or comfortably, but they do not directly impact the legal obligation to verify identity. If the notary cannot verify the signer's identity due to lack of proper ID, they must delay the notarization until the signer can provide the necessary identification.