In North Dakota, a notary must retain their journal of notarial acts for at least 5 years. This record-keeping requirement helps ensure accountability and provides a record of notarial acts in case of legal or administrative inquiries.
A notary should refuse to notarize a document in which they have a personal or financial interest. Doing so helps avoid conflicts of interest and maintains the integrity of the notarial process.
The primary ethical responsibility of a notary public is to act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents. Notaries must remain neutral, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure that their actions are unbiased.
If a notary discovers an error in a document they have notarized, they should complete a new notarization for the corrected document. This ensures that the notarial act is accurately reflected and that any errors are properly addressed.
In North Dakota, notaries who fail to properly perform their duties or violate notarial laws can face fines of up to $1,000. This fine underscores the importance of adhering to legal requirements and performing duties with care and accuracy.
