What must a notary do if they suspect a document is fraudulent?

When a notary suspects that a document is fraudulent, the appropriate course of action is to refuse to notarize the document. Notaries have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure that the documents they notarize are authentic and that individuals signing the documents are doing so willingly and without duress. By refusing to notarize a potentially fraudulent document, the notary protects themselves from liability and upholds the integrity of the notarization process.

Proceeding with the notarization despite the suspicion would compromise the duties of the notary and could lead to legal consequences. Seeking advice from law enforcement may not be necessary since the notary is expected to make an immediate decision based on the information available at the time of the notarization. Moreover, contacting the signer for clarification could lead to potential issues if the document is indeed fraudulent, potentially putting the notary in a difficult position. Thus, refusing to notarize is the most responsible action when facing a suspicion of fraud.