Maryland Notary Practice Exam

Which statement accurately reflects the personal appearance requirement?

The notary and signer must be face to face with no exceptions. The notary may perform the notarization via remote video with no physical signer. The signer may be located outside the jurisdiction if a notary public is present. The notary may notarize without the signer if they present a sworn statement.

Correct Answer:

The notary and signer must be face to face with no exceptions.

Explanation:

Personal appearance means the signer must be physically present before the notary at the time of the notarization. The notary needs to observe the signer, verify identity, and confirm that the signer understands and willingly agrees to the document. This face-to-face presence helps prevent fraud and ensures the act is properly witnessed. Because of that, requiring both the notary and signer to be together in person, with no exceptions, best reflects the traditional personal appearance rule. The other scenarios—notary doing the act via remote video with no physical signer, the signer being outside the jurisdiction, or the notary notarizing without the signer present—do not satisfy the essential requirement that the signer appear before the notary.

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