Powers and Duties of a Notary Public
The core powers
A notary may administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgments, witness signatures, certify copies of certain documents, and perform other authorized notarial acts. The notary's role is to verify identity, ensure the signer appears voluntarily, and record the act - not to give legal advice or judge the document's content.
Identity and personal appearance
A notary must identify the signer through satisfactory evidence: personal knowledge, a government-issued photo ID, or a credible witness who personally knows the signer and the notary (or two credible witnesses). Remote online notarization uses identity proofing and credential analysis instead. Traps: a notary may not rely on a name on the document alone, and may not notarize for someone who cannot appear or communicate without a permitted accommodation.
Special signers
A signer who is physically unable to sign may direct another person to sign in the notary's presence; the certificate must state that. A person who cannot communicate verbally may use a permitted interpreter or other accommodation. A notary may not notarize a signature the notary did not witness, and may not notarize a document in which the notary has a disqualifying interest (covered in a later section).
Refusal and discretion
A notary may refuse to perform an act if identity, willingness, or competence is in doubt, but may not refuse on unlawful discriminatory grounds.
Worked example
A woman brings a signed deed and asks you to acknowledge her signature. She is the signer, so acknowledgment is proper - but you must still identify her and confirm she signed voluntarily and understands the document. If a different person brought the already-signed deed and the signer is absent, you cannot take the acknowledgment.
Rule of thumb: No appearance, no notarization.