Notary Handbook - the Montana Secretary of State Website

SIGNATURES
Witnessing a signature is exactly that: You watch the signer sign the document. Occasionally someone will bring a
document to you that has already been signed, although the preprinted form calls for you to witness the person
sign the document. In situations like that, you must have the person sign the document again in your presence. It
is not necessary for the signer to cross out the first signature; he or she should just sign again as close to the original
signature as possible. When witnessing a signature, the notary will do the following:
Identify the signer as the person who is supposed to sign the document
Determine that the signer is knowingly and willingly signing the document
Have the signer sign the document as you watch
Complete the notarial block
Examples of typical notary blocks for SIGNATURES
1. This is a version of the basic form as described in 1-5-610(4), MCA:
State of Montana
County of __________________
This instrument was signed before me on _______________ by __________________________.
Print name of signer(s)
_______________________________________
Notary Signature
Affix seal/stamp as close to
signature as possible.
[Montana notaries must complete the following,
if not part of stamp.]
_________________________________________
Printed Name
Notary Public for the state of _________________
Residing at________________________________
My Commission expires:___________, 20_______
2. This is another style of notarial block that you may see:
In the County of __________________, State of ___________________, On this ______ day of ________,
_____, before me, the undersigned Notary Public personally appeared ____________________, personally
known to me, proved to me through documentary evidence, or identified by a credible witness to be the person
named in the foregoing, and executed the same.
_______________________________________
Notary Signature
Affix seal/stamp as close to
signature as possible.
[Montana notaries must complete the following,
if not part of stamp.]
_________________________________________
Printed Name
Notary Public for the state of _________________
Residing at________________________________
My Commission expires:___________, 20_______
36