Can notaries assist clients in drafting documents?

The role of a notary public primarily revolves around witnessing and authenticating signatures on documents to ensure that the signing parties are who they claim to be and that they are signing voluntarily. This function is essential for preventing fraud and upholding the integrity of documents. Notaries are strictly prohibited from providing legal advice or assisting in the drafting of documents because doing so may constitute practicing law without a license, which is not within the scope of their duties.

While notaries may answer questions about the notarial process or clarify what is required for a document to be notarized, they cannot engage in the creation of documents or offer guidance on how to draft them. This limitation ensures that notaries do not cross the line into legal counsel, which requires specific qualifications and licensure. Therefore, the correct understanding of the notary's role is that they can only witness and authenticate signatures, emphasizing their position as impartial facilitators in the signing process without providing drafting services.