{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/47.1-15.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/47.1-15.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/47.1-15.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/47.1-15.html"}],"law_id":54718,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54718,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-15","catch_line":"Prohibitions","history":"2007, cc. 269, 590; 2008, c. 685; 2011, cc. 731, 834.","full_text":"A notary shall not:\n\n1\n\nNotarize a document if the signer is not in the presence of the notary at the time of notarization, unless (i) in the case of an electronic notarization, satisfactory evidence of the identity of the signer is established in accordance with § 47.1-2 or (ii) otherwise authorized by law to do so.2\n\nUse the official notary title or seal to endorse, promote, denounce, or oppose any product, service, contest, candidate, or other offering.3\n\nNotarize a signature on a document without notarial certificate wording on the same page as the signature unless the notarial certificate includes the name of each person whose signature is being notarized.4\n\nAffix an official signature or seal on a notarial certificate that is incomplete.\n\t\t\tA notary shall not perform any official act with the intent to deceive or defraud.\n\t\t\tA nonattorney notary shall not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting, or understanding a document or transaction requiring a notarial act. This section does not preclude a notary who is duly qualified, trained, or experienced in a particular industry or professional field from selecting, drafting, completing, or advising on a document or certificate related to a matter within that industry or field or prevent a notary from adding a notarial certificate or electronic notarial certificate to a paper or electronic document at the direction of a principal or lawful authority.\n\t\t\tA notary may decline to notarize a document.\n\t\t\tAny document notarized prior to July 1, 2008, which does not have the notarial certificate wording on the same page as the signature, but otherwise appears on its face to be properly notarized, shall be deemed validly notarized.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":200862,"text":"A notary shall not:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":200863,"text":"Notarize a document if the signer is not in the presence of the notary at the time of notarization, unless (i) in the case of an electronic notarization, satisfactory evidence of the identity of the signer is established in accordance with § 47.1-2 or (ii) otherwise authorized by law to do so.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":200864,"text":"Use the official notary title or seal to endorse, promote, denounce, or oppose any product, service, contest, candidate, or other offering.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":200865,"text":"Notarize a signature on a document without notarial certificate wording on the same page as the signature unless the notarial certificate includes the name of each person whose signature is being notarized.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":200866,"text":"Affix an official signature or seal on a notarial certificate that is incomplete.\n\t\t\tA notary shall not perform any official act with the intent to deceive or defraud.\n\t\t\tA nonattorney notary shall not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting, or understanding a document or transaction requiring a notarial act. This section does not preclude a notary who is duly qualified, trained, or experienced in a particular industry or professional field from selecting, drafting, completing, or advising on a document or certificate related to a matter within that industry or field or prevent a notary from adding a notarial certificate or electronic notarial certificate to a paper or electronic document at the direction of a principal or lawful authority.\n\t\t\tA notary may decline to notarize a document.\n\t\t\tAny document notarized prior to July 1, 2008, which does not have the notarial certificate wording on the same page as the signature, but otherwise appears on its face to be properly notarized, shall be deemed validly notarized.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13725,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers and Duties","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13724,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","permalink":{"id":232987,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13725,"identifier":"3","token":"47.1\/3","url":"\/47.1\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13724,"edition_id":1,"name":"Notaries and Out-Of-State Commissioners","identifier":"47.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:41","permalink":{"id":232925,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13724,"identifier":"47.1","token":"47.1","url":"\/47.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83722,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-12","catch_line":"Powers","url":"\/47.1-12\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-12","metadata":false},{"id":56456,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-13","catch_line":"Jurisdiction; Virginia notarial powers outside the Commonwealth","url":"\/47.1-13\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-13","metadata":false},{"id":70570,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-13.1","catch_line":"Notarial powers outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth","url":"\/47.1-13.1\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-13.1","metadata":false},{"id":65623,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-14","catch_line":"Duty of care","url":"\/47.1-14\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-14","metadata":false},{"id":54718,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-15","catch_line":"Prohibitions","url":"\/47.1-15\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-15","metadata":false},{"id":66059,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-15.1","catch_line":"Additional prohibition on advertising; penalties","url":"\/47.1-15.1\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-15.1","metadata":false},{"id":62014,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-16","catch_line":"Notarizations to show date of act, official signature and seal, etc","url":"\/47.1-16\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-16","metadata":false},{"id":61934,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-17","catch_line":"Change of name","url":"\/47.1-17\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-17","metadata":false},{"id":58603,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-18","catch_line":"Notice of change of address; etc","url":"\/47.1-18\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-18","metadata":false},{"id":75932,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-19","catch_line":"Fees","url":"\/47.1-19\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-19","metadata":false},{"id":77210,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-20","catch_line":"Fee agreements with employer","url":"\/47.1-20\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-20","metadata":false},{"id":85226,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-20.1","catch_line":"Validation of certain acts","url":"\/47.1-20.1\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-20.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65623,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-14","catch_line":"Duty of care","url":"\/47.1-14\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-14","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66059,"structure_id":13725,"section_number":"47.1-15.1","catch_line":"Additional prohibition on advertising; penalties","url":"\/47.1-15.1\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-15.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/47.1-15\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2007. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 269<\/a> and 590<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2008, chapter 685<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 731<\/a> and 834<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58236,"section_number":"47.1-23","catch_line":"Grounds for removal from office","order_by":null,"url":"\/47.1-23\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":63282,"section_number":"47.1-2","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/47.1-2\/"}],"permalink":{"id":233005,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54718,"identifier":"47.1-15","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-15","url":"\/47.1-15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/47.1-15\/","token":"47.1\/3\/47.1-15","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 47.1-15","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A notary<\/span> shall not:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Notarize a document<\/span> if the signer is not in the presence of the notary<\/span> at the time of notarization, unless (i) in the case of an electronic notarization<\/span>, satisfactory evidence<\/span> of the identity of the signer is established in accordance with § 47.1-2<\/a> or (ii) otherwise authorized by law<\/span> to do so. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Use the official notary<\/span> title or seal<\/span> to endorse, promote, denounce, or oppose any product, service, contest, candidate, or other offering. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Notarize a signature on a document<\/span> without notarial certificate<\/span> wording on the same page as the signature unless the notarial certificate<\/span> includes the name of each person whose signature is being notarized. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Affix an official signature or seal<\/span> on a notarial certificate that is incomplete.\n\t\t\tA notary<\/span> shall not perform any official act with the intent<\/span> to deceive or defraud.\n\t\t\tA nonattorney notary<\/span> shall not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting, or understanding a document or transaction requiring a notarial act<\/span>. This section does not preclude a notary<\/span> who is duly qualified, trained, or experienced in a particular industry or professional field from selecting, drafting, completing, or advising on a document or certificate related to a matter within that industry or field or prevent a notary<\/span> from adding a notarial certificate or electronic notarial certificate<\/span> to a paper or electronic document<\/span> at the direction of a principal<\/span> or lawful authority.\n\t\t\tA notary<\/span> may decline to notarize a document.\n\t\t\tAny document notarized prior to July 1, 2008, which does not have the notarial certificate wording on the same page as the signature, but otherwise appears on its face to be properly notarized, shall be deemed validly notarized. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITIONS (\u00a7 47.1-15)\n\nA notary shall not:\n\n1. Notarize a document if the signer is not in the presence of the notary at the\ntime of notarization, unless (i) in the case of an electronic notarization,\nsatisfactory evidence of the identity of the signer is established in accordance\nwith § 47.1-2 or (ii) otherwise authorized by law to do so.\n\n2. Use the official notary title or seal to endorse, promote, denounce, or\noppose any product, service, contest, candidate, or other offering.\n\n3. Notarize a signature on a document without notarial certificate wording on\nthe same page as the signature unless the notarial certificate includes the name\nof each person whose signature is being notarized.\n\n4. Affix an official signature or seal on a notarial certificate that is\nincomplete.\n\t\t\tA notary shall not perform any official act with the intent to deceive or\ndefraud.\n\t\t\tA nonattorney notary shall not assist another person in drafting, completing,\nselecting, or understanding a document or transaction requiring a notarial act.\nThis section does not preclude a notary who is duly qualified, trained, or\nexperienced in a particular industry or professional field from selecting,\ndrafting, completing, or advising on a document or certificate related to a\nmatter within that industry or field or prevent a notary from adding a notarial\ncertificate or electronic notarial certificate to a paper or electronic document\nat the direction of a principal or lawful authority.\n\t\t\tA notary may decline to notarize a document.\n\t\t\tAny document notarized prior to July 1, 2008, which does not have the\nnotarial certificate wording on the same page as the signature, but otherwise\nappears on its face to be properly notarized, shall be deemed validly notarized.\n\nHISTORY: 2007, cc. 269, 590; 2008, c. 685; 2011, cc. 731, 834.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}