The primary legal effect of a notarized document in Montana is to verify the identities of the signers and confirm that they signed the document voluntarily. Notarization does not guarantee the accuracy of the document's contents or provide legal advice.
Before notarizing a document, a notary should ensure that the document is signed in their presence. This is crucial for the validity of the notarization and to confirm that the signature was made willingly and knowingly by the signer.
In Montana, the acceptable form of identification for verifying the identity of a signer is a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. This ensures that the notary can reliably confirm the signer's identity.
A notary should refuse to notarize a document if it appears to be incomplete. This is to ensure that the document is valid and complete at the time of notarization, avoiding potential issues related to missing or incorrect information.
