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Can a notary public with a financial interest in a transaction serve as a notary in that case?

  1. Is

  2. Is not

  3. May choose to

  4. Can under certain conditions

The correct answer is: Is not

A notary public cannot serve as a notary for transactions in which they have a financial interest. This is to maintain the integrity and impartiality that is essential to the notarization process. When a notary has a personal or financial stake in a document’s outcome, their ability to act impartially is compromised. Notaries are required to be neutral third parties, ensuring that all parties understand the documents they are signing without any bias or conflict of interest. Restrictions on notarial acts are in place specifically to prevent any potential abuse or appearance of impropriety in the notarization process. Therefore, a notary with a financial interest in the transaction must refrain from performing their notarial duties in that specific situation to uphold the ethical standards expected of them.