The core duty of a notary is to witness the signature and verify the identity of the signer. The notary does not verify the content of the document or provide legal advice.
One of the primary responsibilities of a notary is to ensure that the signer is signing the document willingly and with full understanding. If the signer appears unsure, the notary must refuse to notarize until the signer fully comprehends the document.
One of the responsibilities of a notary is to ensure that the signer is not under duress or being coerced into signing the document. The notary must ensure that the signer is acting willingly. The notary does not retain copies of documents, certify their accuracy, or provide legal advice.
Wisconsin law requires that the signer must be physically present before the notary at the time of notarization. A notary must refuse to notarize if the signer is not present in person.
A notary must notarize documents based on the date of the notarization, which must be the current date. If the document has an incorrect or backdated signature, the notary should refuse to notarize it until the date is corrected.
