What may the Attorney General seek against a violating notary?

• A. Injunctive relief.
• B. Criminal imprisonment.
• C. Civil damages.
• D. No action.

Answer: (A)

In this area, the key idea is that the state can use a court to stop improper notary conduct immediately. Injunctive relief is a court order that forbids certain actions or requires specific steps to be taken, and it’s designed to prevent ongoing or imminent harm to the public.

For a violating notary, an injunction can halt further improper notarizations, require the notary to comply with all notary laws and procedures, and even preserve records or impose restrictions while the case is resolved. This provides a swift, preventive remedy to stop the damage right away, which is often more practical than waiting for damages to be proven or for criminal charges to run their course.

Criminal imprisonment is a punishment handled through criminal proceedings, not the civil enforcement focus of ensuring ongoing compliance. Civil damages address compensation after harm has occurred, not the immediate need to halt bad conduct. No action would leave the harm unaddressed.