Under what condition should you not perform a notarial act?

A notarial act requires the physical presence of the signer before the notary at the time the act is performed. This is crucial because the notary must verify the identity of the signer through personal observation in order to ensure that the signature is genuine and that the signer is acting voluntarily. If the signer is not present, the notary cannot fulfill this fundamental obligation, which jeopardizes the integrity of the notarization process.

The other options, while they may raise concerns, do not directly contradict the fundamental requirement of the notarial process. A notary can still assess a document for its validity (even if they feel unsure) or seek further clarification when the signer refuses to provide ID or when recognizing the document type is an issue. However, the absence of the signer means the notarial act cannot be conducted at all, making that the definitive condition under which a notary should not proceed.