During an acknowledgment notarial act, when can the signer sign the document?

During an acknowledgment notarial act, the signer can sign the document both before and in the presence of the notary. The primary requirement for the notary is to ensure that the signer acknowledges that the signature on the document is theirs and that it was made voluntarily. This can occur at different stages, as long as the notary witnesses the acknowledgment of the signature.

The notary’s role is to verify the identity of the signer and ensure that they are signing willingly. Therefore, it's permissible for the signer to have signed the document before the notary arrives, as long as when the notary performs the acknowledgment, the signer affirms that the signature is indeed theirs and acknowledges the content of the document. This flexibility accommodates various situations and the signer's preferences while keeping the notarization process valid and secure.