View or download The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility [PDF].
In 1998, the National Notary Association introduced the first-ever comprehensive and detailed code of ethical and professional conduct for America's Notaries: The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility. The Code addresses common problems, issues and questions encountered by today's Notaries by prescribing principles, standards and rules and applying them in helpful specific examples.
The Code is designed to guide Notaries Public when state statutes, regulations and official directives fall short in guiding notaries to perform their official duties. It also serves these functions:
- Educates Non-Notaries – The Code may be handed to an employer, a coworker, a customer or any other user of notarial services to explain the Notary's proper role.
- Catalyst for Change – For lawmakers and administrators, the Code is a moral imperative for progressive change and a catalyst for improving notarial statutes and conventions.
- Reduces Fraud, Litigation – Widespread implementation of the Code will reduce fraud and the volume of civil and criminal lawsuits.
- Fosters Confidence – Any Notary's adherence to the standards of the Code brings confidence that he or she is acting in accordance with the highest professional and ethical traditions of the Notary office.
- Engenders Respect – Widespread adherence to the standards of the Code will heighten professionalism and engender respect and recognition for the Notary office in this nation and abroad.