What should you do if the signer is blind or illiterate?

• A. Read the document and add to notarial certification
• B. Do nothing and proceed
• C. Have a witness sign
• D. Notarize as usual without considering their abilities

Answer: (A)

When someone cannot read or hear the document, the notary must ensure they understand it and document that understanding. The right approach is to read the instrument aloud to the signer and then note in the notarial certificate that the document was read to the signer and that the signer acknowledged understanding or signed with awareness of its contents. This keeps the notarization truthful and shows the signer wasn’t misled or misrepresented.

Proceeding without adapting to the signer’s abilities would not verify that the signer understood what they were signing, and while bringing in a witness might seem helpful, it does not replace the need to document that the document was read to the signer and that understanding was confirmed.