Can a Notary Public help prepare a document that they are about to notarize?

A Notary Public is required to maintain impartiality and neutrality in all transactions they facilitate. This principle ensures that all parties involved in the document signing process receive fair treatment and that the Notary does not have a vested interest in the outcome of the notarization. Assisting in the preparation of a document could create a conflict of interest and undermine the Notary's role as an unbiased witness to the signing of the document.

In addition, if a Notary were to prepare a document before notarizing it, they could potentially influence its content, which could lead to legal challenges regarding the validity of the notarization. Thus, their primary duty is to verify the identity of the signers, ensure they are signing willingly, and confirm they understand the contents of the document they are signing, rather than engaging in its preparation.

Consequently, the key takeaway is that a Notary Public ought to remain neutral and refrain from assisting in the preparation of any documents set to be notarized. This commitment to neutrality safeguards the integrity of the notarization process.