What is prohibited for notaries?

• A. Providing legal advice or interpreting the law.
• B. Proofreading documents.
• C. Drafting contracts.
• D. Accepting bribes.

Answer: (A)

Notaries must remain neutral and focus on the actions of witnessing, authenticating, and verifying rather than advising on legal rights or how the law applies. Providing legal advice or interpreting the law crosses into the practice of law, which notaries are not authorized to do. If a client asks what a document means or how a particular law affects them, the proper approach is to decline to interpret or advise and suggest consulting an attorney, while continuing to perform the notarial act itself.

The other options touch on related issues but aren't the fundamental boundary here: drafting contracts is essentially preparing legal documents and would be practicing law; accepting bribes is unethical and illegal; proofreading is not about legal interpretation, though it can be risky if it moves into content guidance. The essential concept is that legal interpretation and advice are outside a notary’s role.