What is the recommended action when notarizing for an immediate family member?

• A. Decline to notarize.
• B. Notarize but with heightened scrutiny.
• C. Request a colleague to notarize.
• D. Permit only if the signer signs in presence of a witness.

Answer: (A)

Notaries must avoid any appearance of bias by not notarizing for immediate family members. Handling a notarization for a relative can create a real or perceived conflict of interest, which undermines the notary’s duty to be impartial and can lead to questions about the validity of the notarization. The safest and proper course is to decline the notarization for an immediate family member and suggest that the signer use a neutral, unrelated notary. Options that involve heightened scrutiny, having a colleague notarize anyway, or adding a witness do not resolve the conflict of interest and do not replace the need for impartiality.