What should a Notary do if approached to notarize a foreign language document?

A notary's primary responsibility is to ensure that the signing parties understand the document they are executing and that they are doing so willingly and freely. When approached to notarize a foreign language document, the notary must take steps to ensure comprehension. This could mean having an interpreter present to facilitate understanding between the notary and the signer or, if feasible, ensuring that the notary has enough knowledge of the language in question to comprehend the contents sufficiently.

By ensuring that understanding is confirmed, the notary protects not only the integrity of the notarization process but also the signers' rights. Notarizing a document without ensuring comprehension could lead to issues of coercion or misrepresentation, thus undermining the purpose of notarization altogether. This approach aligns with the notary's obligation to verify identity and willingness, particularly when language barriers exist.

The other options, while they may imply caution or procedural measures, do not directly address the necessity of ensuring that the signer understands the document. Refusing to notarize without an attorney may be overly cautious in some instances, and it is not mandatory to have an attorney present for notarization. Notarizing without checking the contents is not advisable as it disregards the fundamental responsibilities of a notary. Contact