Illinois Notary Primer Practice Exam

What should a notary do if they discover a mistake after notarization?

1. Ignore it

2. Contact the signer and take corrective action

3. File a report with the state

4. Teach the signer how to avoid future mistakes

The correct answer is: Contact the signer and take corrective action

When a notary discovers a mistake after notarization, the most appropriate action to take is to contact the signer and take corrective action. This ensures that any errors are addressed and corrected promptly, which helps maintain the integrity of the notarized document. It is crucial for notaries to ensure that the information they are certifying is accurate since notarization adds an official verification of the identities involved and the authenticity of the document. In situations where errors are overlooked, there may be significant implications for the validity of the document. By proactively reaching out to the signer, the notary can rectify the mistake, potentially by re-notarizing the document or providing an amended certificate if applicable. This demonstrates the notary's responsibility and commitment to ethical practices and helps to prevent issues that could arise from a flawed notarization. The other options consist of approaches that do not uphold the notary's duty of care and responsibility. Ignoring the mistake disregards the importance of accurate documentation, while filing a report may not be necessary for every typographical error and could create unnecessary complications. Teaching the signer how to avoid mistakes is useful in a general context, but it doesn't address the immediate need to correct the current error. Hence, contacting the signer for corrective action is the most