In plain English
Notaries generally should not notarize a document with blanks that matter, because they could be filled in later. Many states set rules about this.
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The signer completes or strikes through blanks.
Why it matters
A blank space on a notarized document can be filled in later by someone else, which can change the document's effect. Notaries refuse or ask for blanks to be completed to prevent fraud.
Signers who arrive with blanks may have to call the office that issued the form to learn what goes there, delaying the signing.
Worked example
A form has an empty date line; the signer fills it in before the notary completes the certificate.
What to do
- Review the document for blank lines before the appointment.
- Ask the issuing office what to write in each blank.
- Strike through or mark N/A where something does not apply, if the office agrees.
- Bring any information needed to complete the document.
- Expect the notary to check for blanks before notarizing.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the date blank can allow it to be filled in later and may lead the notary to refuse.
- Expecting the notary to fill in blanks can stall because the notary cannot decide content.
- Striking through fields without asking the receiving office can cause rejection.
Not the same as: Notarial certificate
Blank spaces are unfilled parts of the document, while the notarial certificate is the notary's section that must also be fully completed. See Notarial certificate.
Go deeper
- Why Notaries Question Blanks on a Document: Notaries often refuse to stamp pages with empty lines or missing pages. Learn why, how to handle blanks, and what to do when information is unknown.
- Notarizing Documents With Blank Spaces: What Notaries Check: Why notaries hesitate to notarize forms with blank lines, which blanks are harmless, which are risky, and how signers can complete a document before the appointment.
Related terms
- Capacity: A signer's ability to understand what they are signing and its effect.
- Certified copy: A copy that an official custodian certifies as true to the original.
- Apostille: A certificate that authenticates a public document for use in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Common questions
What are blank spaces in a document?
Unfilled lines or fields in a document presented for notarization.
Can you give an example of blank spaces in a document?
A form has an empty date line; the signer fills it in before the notary completes the certificate.
Can the notary fill in my name or date?
Some states allow limited clerical help. Ask the notary and the issuing office.
What if I do not know what to put in a blank?
Call the office or attorney that gave you the document before the appointment.
General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and change; check with your state's commissioning office.