Under what circumstances must a Notary refuse to perform their duties?

A notary must refuse to perform their duties if they cannot confirm the signer's identity. One of the core responsibilities of a notary public is to ensure that the person signing the document is indeed who they claim to be. This involves verifying the signer's identity through appropriate methods, such as government-issued identification. If the notary is unable to confirm this identity, it creates a risk of fraud or misrepresentation, which undermines the integrity of the notarization process.

In contrast, if a notary is busy with another appointment, this may be a practical concern, but it does not legally require them to refuse service in all circumstances; they could choose to complete the current appointment and then assist the subsequent signer. Similarly, knowing the signer personally, such as being a friend or family member, does not automatically disqualify the notary from performing their duties; however, they have to be cautious to avoid any appearance of bias or conflict of interest. Lastly, while a document in a foreign language may require additional steps, such as translation or legitimate understanding, it does not inherently mean the notary must refuse to notarize it, provided all other conditions are met and they can confirm the signer's identity.