Which action is essential for a notary public to perform?

The role of a notary public is fundamentally centered around serving as an impartial witness during the signing of important documents. This function is crucial because it helps ensure the authenticity of the signatures and that the individuals involved are entering into agreements willingly and without coercion. By acting as an impartial witness, the notary verifies the identity of the signers and acknowledges their understanding of the document they are signing, which helps to prevent fraud and protects all parties involved.

Being impartial is vital to maintaining the integrity of the notarization process, allowing the notary to provide an unbiased third-party perspective. This not only reinforces the legitimacy of the transaction but also builds trust in the legal system, as the presence of an impartial witness ensures that proper procedures are followed.

Other actions mentioned, such as creating legal contracts, providing legal advice, or limiting notarization to digital documents, fall outside the customary duties of a notary. Creating legal contracts involves the practice of law, which notaries are not authorized to do, while providing legal advice can lead to unauthorized practice issues. The notary's function is simply to witness and authenticate the signing process, regardless of whether the documents are physical or digital.