Illinois Notary Primer Practice Exam

Which of the following is a valid reason for a notary to refuse a notarization?

1. The signer is a friend

2. The document is incomplete

3. The signer is not a U.S. citizen

4. The document is written in English

The correct answer is: The document is incomplete

A notary has the responsibility to ensure that all notarizations are conducted in compliance with the law and to protect the integrity of the notarization process. A valid reason for refusing a notarization is if the document is incomplete. Notaries must ensure that all necessary fields are filled out and that the document is fully executed before providing notarization. This helps prevent potential issues such as misunderstandings or the document being misused, which could lead to legal complications. In contrast, if the signer is a friend, that does not impact the legitimacy of the notarization, and personal relationships should not affect a notary's professional duties. A signer not being a U.S. citizen doesn't preclude them from having documents notarized, as long as they can provide proper identification. Additionally, the language of the document, whether in English or another language, does not inherently present a reason to refuse notarization, provided that the notary can understand the content sufficiently to perform their duties correctly.