If a document is signed before an acknowledgment notarial act, what should the notary do?

In the context of a notarial act, the notary's primary responsibility is to ensure that the signer is acknowledging that they are signing the document voluntarily and understands the contents of what they are signing. If a document has already been signed prior to the acknowledgment, the notary can still proceed with the notarization. The essential requirement is that the signer must be present in front of the notary during the acknowledgment. This means the notary verifies the identity of the signer and witnesses that they are affirming their signature on the document.

Proceeding with the notarization in this case is appropriate as long as the notary follows proper procedures, including verifying the identity of the signer and documenting the act accordingly. The act of acknowledgment itself does not require the document to be unsigned before notarization; it is fundamentally about the notary confirming that the signer is present and is acknowledging their signature. Thus, proceeding with the notarization can be valid as long as all other conditions are met, and the notary fulfills their obligations appropriately.