Under what situation might a notary lack impartiality and be unable to notarize?

A notary public must maintain impartiality to fulfill their role effectively and uphold the integrity of the notarization process. When a notary has a financial stake in the transaction, this creates a conflict of interest. This situation can compromise the notary’s ability to act impartially and objectively, which is a fundamental requirement of their duties.

Impartiality is essential because it assures all parties involved that the notary is not favoring one side or acting with any bias. If it is perceived that the notary stands to gain from the transaction, the authenticity of the notarization may be questioned, potentially leading to disputes or legal challenges. This is why notaries are advised to avoid any situations where they might have a personal interest in the outcome of the notarization.

In contrast, lack of experience, the complexity of the document, or a signer being late does not inherently compromise the notary's ability to act impartially. A notary can still perform their duties even if they are inexperienced, the document is complex, or the signer arrives late, as long as they can assess and understand the situation from an impartial standpoint.