Indiana Notary Public Practice Exam

Under what circumstance might a notary face a criminal penalty?

1. For failing to keep a notary journal

2. For acts enabling forgery or false writing

3. For providing improper notarization without identification

4. For charging excessive fees for services

The correct answer is: For acts enabling forgery or false writing

The correct response identifies that a notary could face a criminal penalty for acts that enable forgery or false writing. This stems from the fundamental responsibility of a notary to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the notarization process. If a notary knowingly allows their services to be used for the purpose of facilitating forgery, they are significantly undermining the legal system and can be held criminally liable for such actions. Maintaining the integrity of the notarization process is crucial, and engaging in or enabling fraudulent activities violates not just ethical standards but also legal obligations. This is taken very seriously within the legal framework governing notaries, which emphasizes their role as an impartial witness in legal transactions. In contrast, while failing to keep a notary journal may violate notary regulations or guidelines, it typically does not reach the threshold of criminal conduct. The same holds for providing improper notarization without identification or charging excessive fees – though these actions may result in disciplinary measures or civil penalties, they are generally not categorized as criminal offenses.