Things You Can't Do as a Notary

The public is often confused about what Notaries are allowed to do and may ask you for services you cannot perform as a Notary. In this video, you’ll learn about three things in particular you cannot do as a Notary. For more information, visit the Notary Bulletin: https://bit.ly/3rxPKSm

Your role as a Notary is very important. But the public is often confused about what Notaries are allowed to do and may ask you to do things you cannot do as a Notary.

1. Never offer unauthorized legal advice:
Examples of this include a signer asking you how to complete a document or which type of notarization is required . While these may seem like harmless questions, only an authorized legal professional is allowed to answer them — not a Notary.. If you accidentally gave a signer the wrong information, it could cause the document to be rejected and you could be held liable for any resulting damages, along with other penalties.

2. Never use your Notary seal to make a document appear “legal”: Every so often people ask a Notary to sign or affix a seal on a document, mistakenly believing that a Notary’s seal or signature alone automatically makes a document legal. A document that is just signed or sealed by a Notary without a notarial certificate is not a proper notarization. Always refuse requests to “legalize” a document by performing an improper or unlawful notarization.

3. Never endorse advertising: You may be asked to use your seal or official title to endorse a product, contest or individual. For example, you might be asked permission to include your seal and signature in an ad with a message like, “This contest guaranteed by a Notary Public.” Don’t do it. Only use your Notary commission to perform authorized notarizations. The only state that allows Notaries to certify an event is Washington. And in those cases, Washington Notaries are only authorized to certify that an event took place, or an act was performed. They are not allowed to promote the event or endorse it in advertising.




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