What is the primary responsibility of a Notary Public?

The primary responsibility of a Notary Public is to perform official fraud-deterrent acts related to document signing. This role is essential in ensuring that the identities of the signers are verified and that they are signing documents willingly and without duress. The Notary acts as an impartial witness in the signing process, which helps to prevent issues related to fraud and ensures the authenticity of the documents. This includes administering oaths, taking acknowledgments, and certifying documents to affirm their validity, which carries legal weight.

Options related to court proceedings, providing legal advice, or serving as a witness in criminal cases fall outside the scope of a Notary’s duties. Notaries do not have the authority to administer court proceedings or offer legal counsel, as these tasks require specific legal training and qualifications. Similarly, while Notaries may witness signatures on certain legal documents, their function is not to serve as witnesses in criminal cases, which involves a different legal context and authority.