loading...
Unless a lawyer, the notary public may not engage directly or indirectly in the practice of law. Listed below are some of the activities involving the practice of law which are prohibited, and which subject the notary public to removal from office by the Secretary of State, and possible imprison-ment, fine or both. A notary:
1. May not give advice on the law. The notary may not draw any kind of legal papers, such as wills, deeds, bills of sale, mortgages, chattel mort-gages, contracts, leases, offers, options, incorporation papers, releases, mechanics liens, power of attorney, complaints and all legal pleadings, papers in summary proceedings to evict a tenant, or in bankruptcy, affida-vits, or any papers which our courts have said are legal documents or pa-pers.
2. May not ask for and get legal business to send to a lawyer or law-yers with whom he has any business connection or from whom he receives any money or other consideration for sending the business.
3. May not divide or agree to divide his fees with a lawyer, or accept any part of a lawyer’s fee on any legal business.
4. May not advertise in, or circulate in any manner, any paper or advertisement, or say to anyone that he has any powers or rights not given to the notary by the laws under which the notary was appointed.
A notary public is cautioned not to execute an acknowledgment of the execution of a will. Such acknowledgment cannot be deemed equivalent to an attestation clause accompanying a will.
loading...
loading...
