What is the primary role of a Notary Public in California?

The primary role of a Notary Public in California is to serve as an impartial witness for document signing. This responsibility is crucial in ensuring that the parties involved in a transaction or agreement are who they claim to be and that they are signing documents willingly and without any coercion. The notary verifies the identity of the signers, observes the signing process, and then affixes their seal to the documents to acknowledge that these steps have been appropriately followed. This process helps to deter fraud and adds a layer of trust to written agreements.

Providing legal advice is outside the scope of a notary's responsibilities, as notaries are not qualified to offer such guidance. Similarly, while notarization can be involved in financial transactions, the role of a notary is not limited to those types of documents; rather, it encompasses a wide range of legal documents. Lastly, notaries do not prepare legal documents for individuals, as this task is typically reserved for licensed legal professionals. Hence, the correct answer emphasizes the notary's role as an impartial witness, which aligns with their duties and the goals of notarial acts in California.