It is very common that myths abound about pretty much any job but one profession that seems to have a host of fallacies surrounding it is that of the public notary and their notary public license. Here are a few of them:
Myth- Pretty much anyone can become a notary public
Truth- To receive a notary public license, there are actually a few standards which one must meet before they qualify. While the guidelines can vary slightly by state, the basics are that the person must be at least 18 years of age, they must be a resident of the state in which the application is filed and they must not possess a criminal record.
Myth- Under no circumstances can a notary public deny someone service
Truth- Actually, there are a few instances in which a notary may deny service. The following are the most common: if the identity of the signer cannot be verified, if the notary public has legitimate reason to believe that the person signing the papers is in a state of duress, if there is legitimate reason to suspect fraud, and if the notary public has reason to believe the signer is unwilling to do so. It is true, however, that somebody who has a notary public license cannot deny service to someone based on their ethnicity, religion, race, sexuality, or other similar reason.
Myth- If you have a question about filling out the form, the notary public can help you
Truth- This is definitely not true. The only way a notary public could assist in filling out forms or giving out any other form of legal help is if they were also an attorney. This would be an uncommon circumstance but not unheard of.
These are just a few of the facts and myths surrounding people who possess a notary public license.