Utah Notary Practice Test

The correct choice highlights that a notary public cannot execute documents if they are a signer on those documents. This is an important principle of notary ethics and law. Notaries are tasked with serving as impartial witnesses to the signing of important documents, and their role requires them to maintain neutrality. If a notary is directly involved in the document as a signer, it compromises their impartiality and creates a conflict of interest.

By not executing documents in which they have a vested interest, notaries uphold the integrity of the notarization process, ensuring that all parties involved can trust the validity and authenticity of the notarized document. This creates a clearer and more reliable record for legal purposes, as the notary's duty is to observe and verify signatures without personal involvement in the signed matter.

In contrast, the other choices suggest scenarios that either conflict with this ethical standard or do not apply to the role of a notary. For example, notaries cannot simply execute documents whenever they want, nor is consultation with a legal advisor a requirement for this specific circumstance. The presence of another notary does not negate the conflict of interest created by personal involvement in the document being notarized.