Are notaries allowed to offer legal advice?

Notaries are not allowed to provide legal advice because they do not possess the necessary legal qualifications or licensing required to practice law. The primary role of a notary is to act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to ensure the legitimacy of the signatures. This responsibility includes verifying the identity of the signer, understanding the document being signed, and acknowledging that the signer is doing so willingly and without coercion.

Offering legal advice falls outside the scope of a notary's duties and can lead to potential legal issues, including unauthorized practice of law. Only licensed attorneys have the educational background and legal training to provide counsel or representation regarding legal matters. Thus, notaries must adhere strictly to their role and refrain from engaging in any form of legal advice. This helps protect both the notary and the public from misunderstandings or misrepresentations regarding legal rights and obligations.

While the option stating that notaries can refer signers to attorneys is permissible, it does not complete the core requirement of not providing legal advice directly. Therefore, the correct response reinforces the importance of the notary's limitations and responsibilities within the legal framework.