Which pair of acts correctly lists typical Hawaii notarial duties?

• A. Taking an acknowledgment; administering an oath, affirmation, or affidavit
• B. Drafting contracts; issuing licenses
• C. Certifying deeds; recording mortgages
• D. Providing legal advice; drafting wills

Answer: (A)

In Hawaii, notarial acts are limited to witnessing signatures and handling oaths or affirmations. Taking an acknowledgment means the signer appears before you, proves their identity, and acknowledges they signed the document willingly; you then attach a certificate of acknowledgment. Administering an oath, affirmation, or affidavit involves giving the oath or affirmation to the signer for the document and noting that sworn or affirmed status on the notarial certificate. These are the typical duties because they are the legal functions a notary is authorized to perform to attest to the signing process, not to provide legal services.

Drafting contracts, issuing licenses, certifying deeds, recording mortgages, or providing legal advice and drafting wills are outside a notary’s role. Drafting and advising on legal documents or performing actions like recording or certifying deeds involve practicing law or government records work, which notaries do not handle.