Although a Notary Public may be commissioned to perform services in connection with work for his her employer the notary is nonetheless a _____________?

• A. Public officer and as such is required to provide notarial service to the general public
• B. Private contractor
• C. Employee only
• D. Volunteer

Answer: (A)

Notaries Public are public officers. Their authority comes from the state and creates a public office, with duties to the public and the responsibility to perform notarial acts impartially. This official capacity exists regardless of who hires the notary to do the work; even when employed by an employer, the notary acts as a public official and can serve the general public, not just the employer. The other options describe employment status, not the legal role, so they don’t capture the essential nature of the position.