Can a notary assist someone in completing a legal document?

A notary's primary role is to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to verify the identity of the individuals involved in the transaction. This duty is rooted in the necessity for the notary to maintain impartiality and neutrality in all dealings. Assisting someone in completing a legal document can go against this principle, as it may create a conflict of interest or allow for the potential influence of the notary over the content and intent of the document being executed.

By law, notaries are not permitted to prepare legal documents or guide signers in how to fill them out, as this can lead to situations where the notary is viewed as providing legal advice or having a vested interest in the transaction. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the notarization process and protecting all parties involved from any unintended consequences that may arise from improper assistance.

In this context, the notion that a notary could assist only if they believe it’s in the signer’s best interest, or that they could assist with specific documents, undermines their role as a neutral party. Similarly, suggesting that they can provide templates hints at a level of involvement in the document preparation that is not permitted.