New York State Notary Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

In New York, the essential requirement for a notarial acknowledgment is the signature of the principal signer. This is because a notarial acknowledgment serves to verify that the individual who signed the document is indeed who they claim to be and that they signed the document voluntarily. The notary public confirms this by requiring the signer to personally appear before them and, after assessing their identification, the notary then acknowledges their signature on the document.

The other options do not accurately reflect the requirements for a notarial acknowledgment. For instance, the notary public does not sign the acknowledgment itself; instead, they perform a certification indicating that the acknowledgment has taken place, separate from the signing of the document by the principal. Witnesses are not a necessary part of the acknowledgment process, as the requirement centers solely on the principal signer’s identity and consent. Therefore, the principal signer’s signature forms the core element of this legal procedure, ensuring the integrity and validity of the document being acknowledged.