Communication & Stakeholder Relations Flashcards

A signer appears confused about what document they are signing. What should the notary do?

Answer: Explain the notarial act but not the document's legal content

Notaries may clarify the notarial process but must not provide legal advice about the document's contents.

When communicating with a principal who has limited English proficiency, a notary should:

Answer: Use an interpreter and document their use in the notarial certificate if permitted

Using a qualified interpreter and noting it in the certificate helps ensure the signer's understanding is documented.

A lender's closing agent pressures a notary to skip the identity verification step to save time. The notary should:

Answer: Firmly decline and perform all required identity checks

Notaries must fulfill all statutory duties regardless of pressure from third-party stakeholders.

Which best describes the notary's appropriate communication with signers regarding fees?

Answer: Notaries should disclose maximum allowable fees before beginning

Transparent fee disclosure before notarization prevents disputes and is considered best practice.

A title company asks a notary to communicate with the seller on their behalf and pressure them to sign quickly. The notary should:

Answer: Remain neutral and allow the signer adequate time to review

Notaries must remain impartial and cannot act as advocates for any party to the transaction.

When a signer asks a notary to explain whether a contract is fair, the notary should:

Answer: Explain that providing legal advice is outside a notary's role

Advising on the fairness or legality of a document constitutes unauthorized practice of law.

A notary is performing a remote online notarization and the audio connection is poor. The correct action is to:

Answer: Pause and resolve the audio issue before proceeding

Clear, uninterrupted two-way audio-visual communication is required for a valid remote online notarization.