Should a notary attempt to advise a signer on how to complete a document outside of the notarial certificate?

A notary public's primary role is to act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to ensure the signature is authentic, the signer is willing and aware of what they are signing, and that proper identification is provided. Advising a signer on how to complete a document falls outside the scope of these responsibilities and can lead to potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of impropriety.

By not providing advice on completing documents, the notary maintains their neutral status and protects themselves from liability should issues arise related to the content of the document. The notary is not a legal advisor and is not qualified to interpret or advise on the wording or implications of legal or contractual documents. This is important to underscore, as not all individuals may understand the legal context of a document, further highlighting the need for the notary to remain in a neutral role. Therefore, the correct stance is that a notary should not offer advice on how to complete a document.