What term describes a notary's violation of Georgia law?

• A. Official misconduct
• B. Civil liability
• C. Criminal act
• D. Unauthorized notarization

Answer: (A)

Notaries public in Georgia hold a position of public trust, and when they violate laws that govern their duties, the wrongdoing is described as official misconduct. This term covers actions that breach the duties of a public official or are performed outside the authorized scope, and it is treated as a criminal offense under Georgia law. Civil liability refers to private lawsuits for damages, which is a different process and outcome. Unauthorized notarization describes performing a notarial act without proper authorization, which is indeed improper, but the formal legal category that encompasses violations of a notary’s official duties is official misconduct.