What do you do when the parents of a child ask you to notarize signatures for travel documents verifying that they are the parents of a 3-year-old, but they do not have a birth certificate?
Notaries generally are not responsible for investigating facts related to the documents they notarize. In this case, you would not be responsible for ensuring that the parents hold valid birth certificates before notarizing the parents’ signatures on the travel documents.
Your duty is to follow all state rules for notarizing the signatures on the document. If the travel document requires a jurat notarization, the parents’ statement that they are parents of the child will be made under oath and subject to penalties for perjury if untrue.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
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