Notaries are expected to avoid conflicts of interest to maintain impartiality. Notarizing documents for family members or business partners could create a perceived or actual conflict of interest. To ensure ethical conduct, the notary should decline the request.
A notary should not notarize any document that they know to be fraudulent or containing false information. The appropriate action is to refuse notarization and report the situation to the relevant authorities, as notarizing such documents could be illegal and unethical.
A notary must understand the document being notarized to ensure it is properly completed. If the document is not in a language the notary understands, they should refuse to notarize it until they receive a translation or an interpreter’s assistance to ensure accuracy and prevent any potential issues.
If a notarial certificate contains an error, the best practice is to complete a new certificate with the correct information and attach it to the original document. This ensures that the notarization is accurate and properly documented, while avoiding any potential legal issues related to altering the original certificate.
In Illinois, a notary public must perform notarial acts within the county of their commission. Performing a notarization outside of the commissioned county is not permitted. The notary should refuse to notarize the document in such cases to adhere to legal requirements and maintain proper professional conduct.
