10 Principles to Help Guide A Notary

1.The Notary shall, as a government officer and public servant, serve all of the public in an honest, fair and unbiased manner.

2.The Notary shall act as an impartial witness and not profit or gain from any document or transaction requiring a notarial act, apart from the fee allowed by statute.

3.The Notary shall require the presence of each signer and oath-taker in order to carefully screen each for identity and willingness, and to observe that each appears aware of the significance of the transaction requiring a notarial act.

4.The Notary shall not execute a false or incomplete certificate, nor be involved with any document or transaction that the Notary believes is false, deceptive or fraudulent.

5.The Notary shall give precedence to the rules of law over the dictates or expectations of any person or entity.

6.The Notary shall act as a ministerial officer and not provide unauthorized advice or services.

7.The Notary shall affix a seal on every notarized document and not allow this universally recognized symbol of office to be used by another or in an endorsement or promotion.

8.The Notary shall record every notarial act in a bound journal or other secure recording device and safeguard it as an important public record. (not mandatory in NYS however highly suggested)

9.The Notary shall respect the privacy of each signer and not divulge or use personal or proprietary information disclosed during execution of a notarial act for other than an official purpose.

10.The Notary shall seek instruction on notarization, and keep current on the laws, practices and requirements of the notarial office