Can a notary notarize a document for their spouse?

• A. Yes, it's allowed
• B. Only if they sign as a witness
• C. No, it creates a conflict of interest
• D. Only with court approval

Answer: (C)

Notaries must act with complete impartiality. When the signer is their spouse, the notary’s personal relationship creates a real risk that judgment could be influenced by family ties, pressure, or a perceived benefit. That undermines the trust and integrity of the notarial act, since the key purpose is to verify identity and voluntary acknowledgment without bias. Because of this conflict of interest, a notary should not notarize for a spouse. If needed, the document should be handled by another impartial notary or through an appropriate alternative that preserves neutrality.