What must a notary do when witnessing a signature?

When witnessing a signature, the notary's primary responsibility is to provide a notary seal. This seal verifies that the notary has performed their duties in accordance with the law and that they have confirmed the identity of the signer. The seal is an essential element that authenticates the document and provides assurance that the notary has properly observed the signing process.

While signing as a witness and completing a log entry may be practices that some notaries choose to follow, they are not legally required actions for the notary when witnessing a signature. The notary seal is what officially validates the notary's involvement, making it the crucial component. In California, the notary seal must contain specific information, and without it, the notarial act is not complete. Therefore, focusing on the necessity of the notary seal aligns with the core obligations of the notarial process.