Which statement best describes the notary's public obligation?

• A. to avoid practicing law
• B. to determine whether acts are the practice of law or the practice of a notary public
• C. to supervise other notaries
• D. to enforce court procedures

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that a Texas notary must stay within a strict scope and not engage in legal work. The main public obligation is to recognize the boundary between what is the practice of law and what is just a notarial act. In practice, this means the notary should determine whether a task or question falls under the practice of law or under the duties of a notary public, and then act accordingly—perform the notarial act when appropriate, and avoid giving legal advice or making legal judgments. If a document or situation would require legal interpretation or drafting, the notary should refer the signer to a licensed attorney rather than offering legal counsel. The other duties listed—for example, supervising other notaries or enforcing court procedures—aren’t part of a notary’s public role.