Why is it important for a notary to be neutral?

Being neutral is a fundamental principle in notarial practice, as it ensures that the notary acts impartially and does not have a vested interest in the outcome of the transaction. This neutrality is key to building trust in the notarization process, which is crucial for the integrity of documents being executed.

When a notary avoids conflicts of interest, they can fairly serve all parties involved without bias or favoritism. This impartiality protects the interests of the signer and maintains the reliability of the notarial act. The notary's role is to verify identities, witness signatures, and ensure that the signing process complies with legal requirements, all of which require a neutral stance.

Other options, while they might appear relevant, do not align with the ethical obligations of notaries. For instance, charging higher fees is not a function of neutrality, and encouraging more documents to be notarized does not address the need for impartiality. Assisting a signer in completing a document can sometimes veer into providing legal advice or taking sides, which the notary must strictly avoid.