New York State Notary Practice Exam 2025 - Free Notary Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary duty of a notary public is to certify the validity of signatures on documents. This responsibility is fundamental to the notary's role, as it ensures that the person signing a document is doing so voluntarily and possesses the proper understanding of what they are signing. By verifying the identity of the signer and witnessing their signature, the notary helps to prevent fraud and provides assurance to all parties involved that the document is authentic.

The significance of this duty lies in the notary's impartiality and official capacity, which adds a layer of credibility to the signed document. This function is critical in various legal and financial transactions, where the authenticity of a signature can impact the rights and obligations of the parties involved.

Other options, such as drafting legal contracts or providing legal representation in court, fall outside the scope of a notary's responsibilities. Notaries are not authorized to draft legal documents or represent clients in legal matters, as these tasks require specific legal knowledge and certification that notaries do not possess. Witnessing the creation of wills is also not a primary duty; while a notary may be involved in the signing of a will, their main function remains the certification of signatures, not the witnessing of will creation itself.