To notarize a document with a signature by mark, what is required?

• A. One witness
• B. Two witnesses and the notary
• C. A credible witness
• D. A legal guardian

Answer: (B)

When a person signs by mark, there’s a risk that the signer’s intent or identity could be questioned. The remedy is to have independent witnesses observe the signing and the signer’s mark, with the notary verifying identity and administering the notarization. Two witnesses are needed so there are multiple, independent attestations that the signer made the mark and intended the document, and the notary then completes the notarization with proper identification and the acknowledgment. A single credible witness isn’t enough, and a legal guardian isn’t a substitute for witnesses in this scenario.