What should a notary do when presented with an out-of-state document?

When presented with an out-of-state document, a notary in North Carolina should verify that it meets the state's requirements. This is crucial because notary laws can vary significantly between states, and ensuring that a document complies with North Carolina's laws helps maintain the integrity of the notarization process.

By verifying that the out-of-state document adheres to North Carolina's requirements, the notary can confirm that it has the proper language and formatting that allows for a valid notarization. This process also protects the notary from potential legal issues that may arise if the document does not fulfill the necessary criteria for notarization in the state.

The other options do not align with best practices for a notary. Automatically notarizing a document without verification could lead to notarizing documents that are not legally acceptable or valid in North Carolina. Refusing to notarize without assessing the document does not allow for the opportunity to properly evaluate its legitimacy. Lastly, while contacting the document issuer might provide information, it does not substitute for the formal responsibility the notary has to verify compliance with North Carolina’s notarial laws.