What is the notary public obligated to do?

A Notary Public is obligated to perform several crucial duties to ensure the integrity and legality of documents. Their responsibilities include:

• Identification%20Verification: They must properly identify the signer(s) of a document, usually through acceptable forms of photo identification. This verifies the signer's identity and prevents fraud.

• Witnessing%20Signatures: They must witness the signing of the document by the identified signer. This confirms that the signer physically signed the document in the notary's presence.

• Administering%20Oaths%20and%20Affirmations: If required, they administer oaths or affirmations to signers, confirming the truthfulness of the document's contents.

• Completing%20Notarial%20Certificates: They accurately complete a notarial certificate (also known as a notarial act or notary stamp) on the document. This certificate includes details like the date, location, signer's name, and the type of notarial act performed (e.g., acknowledgment, jurat).

• Maintaining%20a%20Notary%20Journal: In many jurisdictions, notaries are required to keep a detailed journal or record book of all notarial acts performed. This journal serves as a record of the notarization and can be used to verify the validity of the notarization if questions arise.

• Acting%20Impartially: Notaries must remain impartial and unbiased throughout the notarization process. They cannot notarize documents if they have a personal interest in the transaction.

• Adhering%20to%20State%20Laws: They must follow all applicable state laws and regulations governing notarial acts. These laws can vary widely by jurisdiction.

• Protecting%20Against%20Fraud: A primary obligation is to prevent fraud and forgery by ensuring proper identification and witnessing signatures. They should be alert for signs of coercion or duress.

• Refusing%20to%20Notarize%20Improper%20Documents: They must refuse to notarize a document if they have reason to believe the signer is not competent, is being coerced, or the document is incomplete or fraudulent.