What should be done if a notary public needs to notarize their own document?

A notary public is prohibited from notarizing their own document due to the inherent conflict of interest and the necessity for impartiality in the notarization process. This requirement is designed to ensure that the notary remains unbiased and does not have a personal stake in the notarized transaction. When a notary attempts to notarize their own signature, it can compromise the integrity of the notarization because the notary cannot serve as both the signer and the impartial witness to the signing.

The rules governing notary practices stipulate that the notary must be disinterested and have no direct interest in the document being notarized. Therefore, if a notary public finds themselves in a situation where they need to notarize their own document, they should refuse to perform the notarization and seek an alternative solution, such as asking another notary public to assist with the task. By doing so, the notary upholds the ethical standards of notarial practice and maintains the validity of the notarization process.