Powers and Limitations of Notarial Acts
An Arizona notary is empowered to take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, execute jurats, witness or attest signatures, and perform other acts authorized by statute, including certifying copies where the law permits. Each power carries a boundary, and exam questions reward knowing the boundary as well as the power.
The notary must determine, from satisfactory evidence, that the signer is the person named in the document and is appearing voluntarily. The notary may not notarize a document in which the notary is a party, is named as a beneficiary, or has a direct financial or beneficial interest, and may not notarize the notary's own signature. A notary may not give legal advice, explain the legal effect of a document, or draft legal documents for another as part of notarial service. The notary's role is ministerial: verify identity, witness the act, administer the oath if required, and complete the certificate.
A critical limitation is that the notary does not certify the truth of the document's contents - only the identity of the signer and the fact that the act occurred. Questions frequently offer an answer suggesting the notary "verifies the accuracy" or "guarantees the validity" of the document; that is wrong.
Worked example: A man brings a deed and asks the notary to acknowledge his signature. The notary confirms identity with a government-issued photo ID, confirms he signed willingly, completes the acknowledgment certificate, and does not opine on whether he actually owns the property. Rule of thumb: the notary certifies who and that, never whether the content is true.