I'm a Notary in the state of California. Can I legally refuse to notarize a document for someone who seems to be mentally impaired, such as an older person who appears to have dementia? — D.M., California

California law does not specifically address the question of refusing to notarize for signers who are mentally impaired. However in the absence of a specific statute or law, we recommend that you follow The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility Section III-C-1, which states:

“The Notary shall not notarize for any person if the notary has a reasonable belief that can be articulated that the person at the moment is not aware of the significance of the transaction requiring a notarial act.”

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.