Illinois Notary Primer Practice Exam

True or False: Notaries are required to provide translations of documents they notarize.

1. True

2. False

3. Only for foreign documents

4. Only upon request

The correct answer is: False

Notaries are not required to provide translations of documents they notarize. The primary role of a notary public is to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents, to verify the identity of the signers, and to ensure that the signers are signing willingly and understand the contents of the documents to the best of their ability. In situations where a document is in a foreign language, it is the responsibility of the signers to ensure they fully understand the document they are signing. Notaries may assist clients or recommend a translation service, but providing translations is not part of their official duties. Therefore, the correct response to the statement is that it is false; notaries are not obligated to offer translation services when notarizing documents.