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4 Easy Ways To Lose Your Notary Commission

New-UPL-legal-resized.jpgCarelessness and dishonesty are dangerous for Notaries. Negligence can lead to a document being a rejected or a business transaction’s invalidation — or worse. Here are 4 examples of negligence and misconduct that can cost you your Notary commission — temporarily or even permanently.

1. Notarizing Without The Signer Personally Appearing

Personal appearance by the signer is a crucial part of notarizing. All states require the signer to appear before the Notary at the time of the notarization. This is true even in states that have authorized remote online notarizations. In those states, the personal appearance requirement has been redefined.

In any case, failing to require a signer to appear before you means that you have no way of knowing who actually signed the document in question, or if they did so willingly. Not only can this cost you your Notary commission, failing to require personal appearance is one of the most common reasons Notaries are sued for negligence.

2. Failing To Properly Verify The Signer’s Identity

Failing to properly identify a signer is another easy way to lose your commission. If you don’t personally know the signer, you need to ask for ID that meets the requirements of your state’s Notary laws. Most states allow Notaries to use 1 of 3 methods for checking identity — through identification cards, personal knowledge or credible identifying witnesses. California Notaries, however, are not permitted to use personal knowledge to identify signers during notarizations.

Notaries are sometimes asked to overlook ID requirements — a signer may claim to have forgotten or lost their ID, or a boss may ask you not to ask for ID to avoid inconveniencing a signer who is an important client. But if you don’t identify the signer, you’re leaving the door open to document fraud — and there are likely to be serious consequences if it turns out the signer was an imposter. 

3. Falsifying Information In A Notary Certificate

Never, ever agree to enter false or incorrect information when completing a Notary certificate. It may seem harmless on the surface, but if you intentionally record false information — such as backdating when the notarization took place — you are making a fraudulent statement and may be subject to any civil or criminal penalties under your state’s laws.

4. Giving Improper Legal Advice To A Customer

Notaries are strictly prohibited by law from giving unauthorized legal advice. If you’re not a qualified attorney, you are not allowed to answer signer questions about the legal effect of their documents. Nor may you give signers advice or answer questions about legal matters, and you cannot choose what type of notarization is needed. Answering questions from signers such as “What does this section of the document mean?” or “Is this document legal in a court of law?” when you aren’t qualified to do so are easy ways to get yourself into serious trouble, including your commission potentially being suspended or revoked.

David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.

 

View All: Best Practices

12 Comments

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David DeVore

23 Sep 2019

thanks

Troy Boydston

23 Sep 2019

Thank you for this valuable information.

Edward Naylor

23 Sep 2019

Dear David: do not agree with your statement in #4 about choosing what type of notarization is needed. If verbiage in the document to be notarized has sworn or oath in it and the notary print below indicates acknowledge, the notary section needs to be corrected to a jurat type of wordage. Sincerely, Edward Naylor

National Notary Association

24 Sep 2019

Hello. You are correct that if the document in question includes pre-printed Notary certificate wording that clearly indicates what type of notarization is required, it is OK to proceed. However, if there is no clear indication what type of notarization is needed, a nonattorney Notary may not choose the notarization on the signer's behalf. An acceptable option is to describe the different types of notarizations available (for example, acknowledgment or jurat) to the customer, and let the customer choose what notarization they would like performed.

Cc. Swenson

27 Sep 2019

Thanks for the info.....

Teresa Harris

30 Aug 2023

There is a notary in saint albans wv that is friends with my x husband that let him gorge my name on a document. How do I get her license taken

National Notary Association

05 Sep 2023

Hello. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you are located in?

Teresa Harris

23 Nov 2023

How to get a notary license

National Notary Association

04 Dec 2023

Hello. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you wish to apply for a commission in?

Kelli D Zwingelstein

27 Jun 2024

My sister hada notary come to moms house while my mom was in hospice care.She notarized on july 12th...2024.Had my mom scribble her name with my moms help to get p.o.a. which i was my moms p.o.a.for years.No form from my mom my mom was filled out retracting me from p.o.a.No i.d.was given to notary confirming my sisters address as she does not have one.Regardless...My mom passed June 25th...I feel this notary neglected her duties and I understand my p.o.a.Stopped the day my mom passed and thats fine as I am executrous listed to basically nothing.But..I want that notaries licences revoked.How do I do that?? No court..no suing..just what she did was unethical and did not follow guidelines!

National Notary Association

28 Jun 2024

Hello. If you can please let us know what state you are in, we can tell you if your state has a process for filing a complaint against a Notary for alleged misconduct.

Welshen A Flores

14 Oct 2024

So great information. Thanks.

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