Which action is prohibited for notaries under California law?

Which action is prohibited for notaries under California law?

• A. Collecting fees for notarization
• B. Providing notarial services to acquaintances
• C. Helping draft documents
• D. Offering legal advice outside of their authority

Answer: (D)

Notaries in California are prohibited from offering legal advice outside of their authority because they are not licensed attorneys. While they can assist with the notarization process, they cannot interpret documents, provide legal counsel, or suggest legal actions to individuals. This restriction is in place to protect the public, as only licensed attorneys are qualified to offer legal advice. In contrast, collecting fees for notarization is allowed as long as it adheres to the maximum fee limits set by California law. Providing notarial services to acquaintances is also acceptable, as long as these services are performed in a professional capacity and do not involve a conflict of interest. Helping draft documents, while generally a task that requires legal expertise, can sometimes fall within the scope of what a notary can do if it pertains to basic procedural forms or does not constitute legal advice.

Notaries in California are prohibited from offering legal advice outside of their authority because they are not licensed attorneys. While they can assist with the notarization process, they cannot interpret documents, provide legal counsel, or suggest legal actions to individuals. This restriction is in place to protect the public, as only licensed attorneys are qualified to offer legal advice.

In contrast, collecting fees for notarization is allowed as long as it adheres to the maximum fee limits set by California law. Providing notarial services to acquaintances is also acceptable, as long as these services are performed in a professional capacity and do not involve a conflict of interest. Helping draft documents, while generally a task that requires legal expertise, can sometimes fall within the scope of what a notary can do if it pertains to basic procedural forms or does not constitute legal advice.