Illinois Notary Primer Practice Exam

In Illinois, notaries public are prohibited from drafting legal documents for clients. This restriction is in place because drafting legal documents requires a specific legal expertise that goes beyond the duties of a notary. Notaries are primarily responsible for performing acts such as witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and verifying the identity of signers. These actions are integral to ensuring the authenticity and integrity of documents but do not involve providing legal advice or creating documents that might require specialized knowledge of the law. The prohibition on drafting legal documents helps to prevent unauthorized practice of law and protects the public by ensuring that only qualified individuals are engaging in legal document preparation. This limitation emphasizes the role of notaries as impartial witnesses in the notarization process, rather than as legal advisors or document drafters.