What Notaries Can and Cannot Do (A Simple Professional Guide) ✨

Keep up to date with your state’s notarial guidelines.

Many clients, and even new notaries, are unclear about the boundaries of notary work. Understanding what a notary can and cannot do protects everyone involved.

A notary’s role is specific: verify identity, witness signatures when required, administer oaths when authorized, and complete notarial certificates properly.

Here is a simple professional boundary guide.

✅ What Notaries CAN Do

Notaries can:

• verify signer identity using acceptable ID

• witness signatures when required

• administer oaths and affirmations

• complete notarial certificates

• maintain proper records

• refuse improper notarizations

❌ What Notaries CANNOT Do

Notaries cannot:

• give legal advice

• explain legal consequences of documents

• choose the notarial act for the signer

• notarize without proper identification

• notarize when the signer is not present (unless lawfully authorized remote notarization)

• alter document content

⚖️ Why These Boundaries Matter

These limits are not restrictions, they are protections. They preserve neutrality, prevent unauthorized practice of law, and keep notarizations valid.

Professional notaries are careful not only about what they do, but what they decline to do.

Good notary work is defined as much by boundaries as by procedure. Clarity protects the notarization and the signer.

FC Signings & Co. provides professional notary services with accuracy, neutrality, and respect for legal boundaries.

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