What does notarization guarantee?

Notarization primarily ensures that the signer was physically present before the notary and that their identity has been properly verified. The notary public is responsible for confirming that the person signing the document is who they say they are, often through the presentation of valid identification. This process helps prevent fraud, as it assures that signers are not impersonating someone else and are indeed willing and aware of what they are signing.

While other aspects, such as the legal sufficiency of the document and the competence of the signer, may be indirectly affected by notarization—if a document is notarized, it indicates the signer’s legitimacy rather than guaranteeing the document’s legal standing or the accuracy of its content. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the notary's role in verifying identity and presence rather than making any assertions about the document's intrinsic qualities.