Which scenario indicates a failure to meet notarial requirements?

Asking the signer to identify themselves before notarization is a fundamental requirement of the notarial process. Identification is crucial to ensure that the notary can verify the identity of the individual signing the document. This helps prevent fraud and ensures that the notary is fulfilling their duty to authenticate signatures properly.

Without proper identification, a notary may inadvertently notarize a document for someone who is not the actual signer, which can lead to significant legal implications. Therefore, a failure to ask the signer for identification signifies a breakdown in the notarial process and a disregard for the standards set to protect the integrity of notarizations.

In contrast, the other scenarios, such as the presence of a witness or the requirement to charge a fee, might be subject to varying practices and regulations depending on specific circumstances or state laws, but they are not universally considered foundational to the notarial act itself in the same manner as verifying the signer's identity. Thus, failing to ask for identification is clearly a failure to meet essential notarial requirements.