What is the Notary's main responsibility when notarizing a document?

The main responsibility of a notary public when notarizing a document is to verify the identity of the signer. This critical step involves ensuring that the individual appearing before the notary is indeed who they claim to be, which typically includes checking valid identification, such as a driver's license or passport. The notary must ascertain that the signer understands the document and is acting willingly. This function is crucial because it helps prevent fraud and ensures that signers are aware of the implications of the documents they are signing.

While ensuring the accuracy of the document content, preparing legal documents, and providing legal advice may be important aspects of general legal processes, they do not fall within the notary’s scope of responsibilities. A notary does not have the authority to modify, interpret, or give advice about the content of the documents they are notarizing; their primary focus is on the authentication of the signature and the identity of the individual signing the document.