What is a notary's obligation regarding impartiality?

A notary's obligation regarding impartiality is fundamental to their role as a trusted public official. Remaining completely neutral in transactions ensures that the notary acts as an unbiased witness to the signing of documents. This impartiality is crucial because it helps to maintain the integrity of the notarization process, ensuring that all parties involved in a transaction can trust that the notary does not have any personal stake or interest that could influence the outcome.

Impartiality means that the notary should not favor one party over another and should not provide preferential treatment or assistance to any individual involved. By upholding this standard, the notary assures that the document being notarized is valid and that the process is fair to all participants. This respect for neutrality is a foundational principle of notarial practice, upholding public confidence in the notarization process, and supporting the legal system's efficacy.

The other options reflect actions that contradict the obligation of a notary to remain impartial and neutral, which can lead to conflicts of interest and compromise the veracity and reliability of the notarization process.