What must be ensured before applying a Notary Seal?

Ensuring that the signer's identity is verified is a critical step before applying a Notary Seal. This process is fundamental to the role of a notary public, whose primary duty is to prevent fraud and keep the notarization process secure. By verifying the signer's identity, the notary confirms that the individual who is signing the document is indeed who they claim to be, thus providing authenticity and legal weight to the signature on the document.

A notary typically requires valid identification from the signer, such as a driver’s license or passport, and they may also record details about the identification in their journal for accountability. This not only protects the integrity of the notarization but also helps uphold the legal standards set by governing laws and regulations surrounding notarizations.

In contrast, while the other aspects mentioned—such as clarity of intentions, corrections on documents, and inclusion of the date—are also important in their own right for ensuring the document's validity and clarity, they do not directly relate to the verification of identity, which is a foundational element of the notarization process.