What should a notary do if they receive no affirmative answer to "Do you acknowledge...?"

When a notary public asks the individual if they acknowledge the instrument being executed and receives no affirmative answer, the appropriate course of action is not to proceed with the acknowledgment. This is critical because an acknowledgment is a formal declaration made by the individual that they are signing the document voluntarily and understand its contents. Without a clear affirmative response, the notary cannot confirm that the signer is willing and aware of the implications of what they are signing.

Proceeding without an acknowledgment would undermine the integrity of the notarization process and could lead to legal complications if the document were to be challenged later. It is imperative for the validity of the notarial act that the signer explicitly acknowledges their intent. Therefore, the notary should refrain from conducting any further actions regarding the acknowledgment until they receive a clear and affirmative response from the individual.