What NOT to Ask a Notary Public to Do

As a Notary Public, I get asked to do a lot of things, some illegal. Many times the person asking is ignorant of the the law and does not realize they are asking me to break it.

So, I decided to make a list of things that if notaries do, they could very possibly become one of those birds that can not fly any longer. (JailBird)

1. Notarize a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate or death certificate. Clue here--if the certified copy that is being presented to you to copy, had to be obtained from the state office of Vital Records--DO NOT CERTIFY A COPY OF IT.
2. Notarize your own signature.
3. Notarize a document that names you n any way other than as the notary.
4. Notarize a document for anyone that is blood kin to you or married to your blood kin.
5. Notarize a document that has no notorial wording on it.
6. Notarize a loose Certificate without it being attached to a specific document and having a very specific description of that document on the Certificate.
7. Notarize a signature without the signer being present.
8. Notarize a document that has not been signed.
9. Backdate or forward date a document.
10. Give an interpretation of the law.

So, no one wants to lose their commission or go to jail, be on probation, or labelled a criminal.

Next time you ask a notary to notarize something for you, and they refuse, do not get angry. They are most likely not only protecting themselves, but you from possible legal trouble.

I am not an attorney and am not giving legal advise. However, I do highly suggest that if a notasry refuses to notarize something for you, do one or both of the following things:

1. Ask the notary to provide with the written law, regulation or other documentation they are basing the decision on.

2. Check YOUR state's laws for yourself.

If you believe a notary has notarized something illegally or has refused to perfom a leagally allowable notarization, please contact your state Secretary of state's office.