Which trio of criminal liabilities is listed as examples for breach of notarial duties?

• A. Extortion, Fraud, and Perjury
• B. Forgery, Perjury, and Bribery
• C. Extortion, Forgery, and Perjury
• D. Extortion, Forgery, and Bribery

Answer: (C)

Notaries must maintain integrity in every act, and when they breach their duties these acts can cross into criminal behavior. Extortion involves using the authority of the notary to coerce or demand improper payments or favors from someone seeking a notarial act. Forgery covers creating or altering signatures, seals, or the document itself in a way that misrepresents what was actually signed or sealed. Perjury is giving false testimony or swearing to something untrue in connection with a notarial act. These three—extortion, forgery, and perjury—are the criminal liabilities most commonly cited as examples of breaches of notarial duties. While bribery or fraud can also relate to improper notarial conduct, the combination listed here is the standard trio associated with breaches of notarial duties.