For what reason is it important for notaries to remain impartial?

It is crucial for notaries to remain impartial primarily to avoid the appearance of favoritism. Impartiality ensures that all parties involved in a notarization process are treated fairly and equitably, promoting trust in the notarial act. This perception of neutrality helps to uphold the integrity of the notary's role and the legal documents they are certifying. If a notary shows bias towards one party over another, it can undermine the reliability of the notarization and raise questions about the legitimacy of the documents. By maintaining impartiality, notaries help to ensure confidence in the notarial process for everyone involved.

While ensuring documents are duly signed, enhancing personal reputation, and complying with local laws are all important aspects of a notary’s duties, they are secondary to the fundamental need for fairness and neutrality in the notarization process. Notaries must prioritize this impartiality to maintain the public's trust in their role as unbiased witnesses in legal transactions.