What constitutes Official Misconduct for a notary?

Official misconduct for a notary primarily involves failing to perform the duties that are mandated by law. This encompasses a range of responsibilities, including ensuring that all notarial acts are performed correctly and in compliance with legal requirements. When a notary neglects their obligations, whether it involves not verifying a signer's identity or not following the proper procedural steps for a notarization, it constitutes misconduct.

Being diligent in performing these duties safeguards the integrity of the notarial process. When a notary does not fulfill these responsibilities, it compromises the trust in the notarization system and can lead to legal issues or the validity of documents being called into question.

While other options may represent mistakes or oversights, they do not necessarily rise to the level of official misconduct as defined by law. For example, performing a notarial act without a signature may be a procedural error, but it does not inherently violate the core duties of the notary in the same way that failing to perform a required duty does. The correctness of fees is also important, but it more often falls into the realm of professional ethics rather than fundamental misconduct.