What if the signer signs in Chinese characters or hyroglyphics?

I once had a signer who wanted to sign in Chinese. It is prudent for a Notary to check the signature on a signer’s ID and make sure it matches the signature on the document. Otherwise, you might suspect fraud. But, is it legal to notarize a signature in Chinese? On your Notary certificate you have to write the person’s name in English.

My logic is that many English language signatures are incomprehensible scribbles. So, what’s the difference between an American scribble and a Chinese scribble? You can’t make sense of either one. The signer’s name was something like John C Wang and he had three corresponding Chinese characters. He claimed that scribble #1 represented the John and the next one the C, etc. I was unclear about the law in this case, but his signature matched his ID which is why I let him do it this way as matching signatures are a requirement for prudent Notarization.

But, on another occassion I was asked to teleport back into time to notarize in hyroglyphics at a pyramid. The provided a time machine and gallactic portal. I went back into time (air conditioning not included) and got to the site where they needed a notary. We spent an hour drinking tea, making small talk and negotiating my fee. They talked me out of a travel fee since they provided the travel arrangements. I also didn’t want to negotiate too hard as I didn’t want them to get mad at me otherwise I might not have a trip back to 2016. So, we sat down at the signing table, saw the guy’s ID, etc.

NOTARY: For security, may I know your mummy’s maiden name?

KING TUT: Which one?

NOTARY: Okay, please sign the journal

KING TUT: Okay…

NOTARY: Oh, forgot. I’m not allowed to Notarize hyrogliphics.

KING TUT: But, this is how I sign! And by the way, you are out of your jurisdiction, and your commission is not current here as it hasn’t been originated for another 5000 years.

NOTARY: Hmmm, good point. But, the pistachios were good and I enjoyed the time machine so it wasn’t a complete waste of time — or reverse time as the case may be.

KING TUT: Okay, how about I get into the time machine with you, go to California in 2016 where you are commissioned, and make up some English language name.

NOTARY: That might work. But you need an ID from a government that has a photo and physical description.

KING TUT: No problem, I’ll just go down to the DMV and pick one up.

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