Under what circumstances may a notary refuse to notarize a document?
As a public officer, a notary should perform any notarial power to any individual who makes a reasonable and lawful request for notarization. A notary may, however, refuse to notarize a document if the notarization would result in an illegal or improper act or the notary knows that the transaction is fraudulent. Generally, a notary should not refuse to notarize a document solely because the individual requesting notarization is not a client or customer of the notary or the notary’s employer. Because the notary is a public official, a notary public should be available to perform notarial services for the public at large.
