Notaries must be aware that the U.S. Department of Treasury prohibits certain foreign nationals from doing business with the U.S., and if one of them requests a notarization it must be refused.
These “Specially Designated Nationals” (SDNs) are flagged due to their suspected involvement in illegal, terrorist or other activities that threaten national security. Performing a notarization or other business service for one of them could result in fines or other civil penalties.
While state laws do not specifically require Notaries to check whether a signer is on the government’s SDN list, you should consult the list as a precaution. This is especially relevant for noncustomers who request a notarization, or signers who seek the services of mobile Notaries outside of a bank or business to avoid detection. The Treasury Department’s list of SDNs can be found online.