When is a notarial act considered complete?

A notarial act is considered complete when the document is signed in the notary's presence. This is a fundamental aspect of the notarial process; the notary must witness the signing to ensure that the individual is signing willingly and is of sound mind. The notary's role is to act as an impartial witness to this act, which provides an additional layer of assurance regarding the authenticity of the document and the identity of the signers.

While the creation of the notarial certificate and the affixing of the notary's seal are important steps in the process, they occur after the actual signing. Additionally, receiving payment is not a requirement for a notarial act to be deemed complete; the notary's function is to execute the act based on the legal parameters that govern their role, rather than any financial transaction. Thus, the essential action that completes a notarial act is the witnessing of the signature itself.