Why is personal knowledge an important factor for notaries?

Personal knowledge is essential for notaries because it fundamentally aids in confirming the identity of the signer. When a notary has personal knowledge of an individual, it means they are familiar with that person's identity through direct, prior interaction. This familiarity provides assurance that the signer is indeed who they claim to be, which is a critical aspect of the notarization process.

This personal knowledge can help prevent fraud and ensures the integrity of the documents being notarized. It allows the notary to confidently proceed with the notarization without needing additional forms of identification, thus streamlining the process while maintaining security.

Other options, while they touch on relevant aspects of notarization, do not encapsulate the primary role of personal knowledge as effectively as confirming identity. For example, personal knowledge does not guarantee that a signer will not lie, nor is it the only method allowed—there are recognized forms of identification that can also confirm a signer's identity. Additionally, while personal knowledge may speed up the process in certain scenarios, it is ultimately the confirmation of identity that is the crux of why personal knowledge holds such importance in notary practice.