Which of the following is NOT a function of a notary public?

A notary public serves a variety of important roles within the legal and administrative framework. One of the primary functions of a notary is to witness signatures on documents. This involves verifying the identity of the signatories and ensuring that they are signing the documents willingly and without coercion.

Additionally, a notary is responsible for taking oaths and affirmations, which are formal declarations made by individuals affirming that the information they provide is true. This is critical in legal processes where accuracy is paramount.

Preventing fraud in document signing is also a fundamental duty of a notary. By confirming the identities of the parties involved and ensuring that they understand the documents they are signing, notaries play a crucial role in safeguarding against fraudulent activities.

Creating legal contracts, however, is not within the scope of a notary’s responsibilities. While a notary plays a key role in the execution of documents, they do not draft or create legal documents themselves. Their role is to authenticate documents and affirm that the signing process complies with legal standards, rather than to generate legal contracts. Therefore, this option is accurately identified as not being a function of a notary public.