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What must a subscribing witness confirm in relation to an instrument?

  1. His knowledge of the signing party

  2. His own identity

  3. His place of employment

  4. His residence only

The correct answer is: His knowledge of the signing party

The subscribing witness is required to confirm their knowledge of the signing party when they appear in relation to the execution of an instrument. This is crucial because the role of the subscribing witness is to provide evidence that the signing party actually signed the document, and that they are who they claim to be. Their familiarity with the signer is essential to ensure the authenticity of the signature and to demonstrate that the signer acted voluntarily and with understanding of what they were signing. While elements such as identity and residence may also be relevant in other contexts, they do not specifically address the core responsibility of the subscribing witness, which centers around their direct knowledge of the signing party.