Ace the New York State Notary Practice Exam 2026 – Seal Your Success Today!

A notary may be held legally liable for errors in their notarial acts because they are responsible for ensuring that the notarization process is carried out accurately and according to the law. This includes verifying the identity of signers, ensuring they are signing willingly and under no duress, and accurately completing the notarial certificate. If a notary makes a mistake—such as failing to properly identify a signer or not following required procedures—they can be held accountable for any resulting issues, which may include financial loss or legal disputes arising from the flawed notarization.

The other situations do not typically lead to legal liability for a notary. Notarizing without a fee is often permissible as many states, including New York, allow notaries to waive their fees. Similarly, notarizing for a family member is allowed so long as the notary follows state laws and ethical guidelines. Refusing to notarize a document must also be justified by proper grounds like questions about the document's legitimacy, and a notary cannot be penalized for declining a notarization when it’s appropriate to do so.