What should you do if the venue is incorrectly stated on a notary acknowledgment?

When the venue is incorrectly stated on a notary acknowledgment, the appropriate action is to strikethrough the incorrect venue and correct it, followed by initialing the change. This is important for a couple of reasons.

First, a notary acknowledgment serves as a verification of where the signing took place, and having the correct venue is essential for legal accuracy. By striking through the erroneous information and providing a correct notation, you are maintaining the integrity and reliability of the document.

Second, initialing the change helps to establish that the correction was made with intention and consent, ensuring that the document reflects both the accurate information and the notary's acknowledgment of the correction. This method provides transparency and prevents issues that could arise from having discrepancies in officially notarized documents.

In contrast, ignoring the mistake can lead to significant legal consequences, as it compromises the document's validity. Recreating the document entirely could waste time and resources, especially if the only error is the venue. Simply notifying the signer without correcting the acknowledgment does not resolve the issue and doesn't fulfill the notary's duty to ensure that all information is accurate.