Texas Notary Public Practice Test

The main idea here is that a notary’s liability centers on how they perform the notarial act itself. If a notary properly conducts the jurat, acknowledgment, or any other required notarial act, their liability is limited to that proper performance. The notary isn’t generally responsible for the substance of the document or its legal effects, unless they mishandle the act (for example, by improperly identifying the signer, failing to administer an oath when required, not witnessing or notarizing correctly, or failing to complete the certificate and seal). In short, liability attaches when the notarial duties aren’t performed properly, not for the document’s content or consequences.