What should a notary do if they witness a fraudulent act during notarization?

A notary public has a critical responsibility to uphold the integrity of the notarization process. If a notary witnesses a fraudulent act during the notarization, they should refuse to proceed with the notarization and document the incident. This is essential because notarizations are meant to provide a level of authenticity and trust, and engaging in any fraudulent activity undermines that process.

Refusing to notarize in the face of fraud protects both the notary and the public from potential legal issues that can arise from participating in a fraudulent act. Documenting the incident is vital as it creates a record of the event, which can be pertinent in any future investigations or legal proceedings. This documentation demonstrates the notary's compliance with ethical standards and their role in preventing fraud.

The notary's primary duty is to ensure that all signatures are made willingly and with the understanding of the document's contents. When fraud is evident, the notary’s ethical obligations take precedence over any expectation to complete the notarization process.