Utah Notary Practice Test

What should a notary do if asked to make a certified copy of a marriage license?

1. Complete the request with a disclaimer

2. Politely decline and state the reason is that notaries cannot copy certify any public record

3. Ask for a fee before refusing

4. Make a copy and certify it anyway

The correct answer is: Politely decline and state the reason is that notaries cannot copy certify any public record

A notary must understand the limitations of their authority, particularly when it comes to public records. The correct response reinforces the idea that notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of certain documents, including public records such as marriage licenses, because such documents are already public and maintained by the appropriate governmental authority. By politely declining and clearly stating that notaries do not have the authority to certify copies of public records, the notary adheres to their legal boundaries. This preserves the integrity of the notarial act and ensures compliance with relevant laws and regulations. It is important for notaries to communicate the rationale behind their refusal to help the requester understand the legal context. This approach not only protects the notary from potential legal issues but also informs clients of the procedures they might need to follow to obtain legitimate certified copies from the issuing authority. Importantly, this maintains the professional standards expected of notaries and upholds public trust in the notarial process.