What is a Notary Public’s obligation regarding their notarial practices?

A Notary Public's obligation to work diligently and avoid conflicts of interest is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of the notarial process. This responsibility ensures that the Notary remains impartial, reliable, and serves the public's best interest. By diligently performing their duties, including verifying the identity of signers and ensuring that they understand the transactions they're involved in, Notaries help prevent fraud and uphold the legal validity of notarized documents.

Avoiding conflicts of interest is also crucial. If a Notary notarizes documents for individuals with whom they have a personal or financial interest, it could undermine the objectivity expected of the Notary. Therefore, such practices could lead to a breach of trust and legal repercussions for both the Notary and the parties involved.

The other options do not align with a Notary's primary duties. Restricting notarizations to just friends and family would compromise the Notary's mandate to serve the public, while charging the highest fee possible goes against the principles of reasonable and customary fees outlined in regulations. Limiting notarizations to working hours fails to recognize the flexibility some clients may need, as notarial services can be required at various times. Hence, diligence and conflict avoidance stand as crucial obligations for notaries.