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.
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, 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.
