Duties and Responsibilities Flashcards

Under the New Jersey Notary Public Act, what is the primary duty of a notary public when performing a notarial act?

Answer: To verify the identity of the signer and ensure willingness and awareness

A notary's primary duty is to verify the identity of the signer and confirm the signer is willing and aware of what they are signing. The notary does not guarantee document content or provide legal advice.

Which of the following is a notary public in New Jersey required to do before performing a notarial act?

Answer: Require personal appearance of the signer

New Jersey notaries must require the personal appearance of the signer at the time of the notarial act, unless performing remote online notarization.

A New Jersey notary is asked to notarize a document for a person who appears visibly intoxicated. What should the notary do?

Answer: Refuse to perform the notarial act

A notary must refuse to notarize if the signer appears incapacitated or unable to understand what they are signing. Intoxication calls awareness into question.

What is a notary public in New Jersey NOT authorized to do?

Answer: Practice law or give legal advice

Unless the notary is also a licensed attorney, they may not practice law or give legal advice. This is strictly prohibited for non-attorney notaries.

Under New Jersey law, a notary public who charges fees for notarial services must:

Answer: Post a fee schedule visible to clients

New Jersey notaries who charge fees must display a fee schedule that is visible and accessible to clients.

When a New Jersey notary performs a notarial act, which of the following best describes the notary's responsibility regarding the content of the document?

Answer: The notary has no responsibility for document content

A notary is responsible only for the notarial act itself, not the content, accuracy, or truthfulness of the document's substance.