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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54718</law_id><section_number>47.1-15</section_number><catch_line>Prohibitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>47.1-23</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="47.1">Notaries and Out-Of-State Commissioners</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Powers and Duties</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A <span class="dictionary">notary</span> shall not:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Notarize a <span class="dictionary">document</span> if the signer is not in the presence of the <span class="dictionary">notary</span> at the time of notarization, unless (i) in the case of an <span class="dictionary">electronic notarization</span>, satisfactory <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the identity of the signer is established in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/47.1-2/">47.1-2</a> or (ii) otherwise authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span> to do so. <a id="paragraph-200863" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/47.1-15/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Use the official <span class="dictionary">notary</span> title or <span class="dictionary">seal</span> to endorse, promote, denounce, or oppose any product, service, contest, candidate, or other offering. <a id="paragraph-200864" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/47.1-15/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Notarize a signature on a <span class="dictionary">document</span> without <span class="dictionary">notarial certificate</span> wording on the same page as the signature unless the <span class="dictionary">notarial certificate</span> includes the name of each person whose signature is being notarized. <a id="paragraph-200865" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/47.1-15/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Affix an official signature or <span class="dictionary">seal</span> on a notarial certificate that is incomplete.
			A <span class="dictionary">notary</span> shall not perform any official act with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to deceive or defraud.
			A nonattorney <span class="dictionary">notary</span> shall not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting, or understanding a document or transaction requiring a <span class="dictionary">notarial act</span>. This section does not preclude a <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">notary</span> from adding a notarial certificate or <span class="dictionary">electronic notarial certificate</span> to a paper or <span class="dictionary">electronic document</span> at the direction of a <span class="dictionary">principal</span> or lawful authority.
			A <span class="dictionary">notary</span> may decline to notarize a document.
			Any 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. <a id="paragraph-200866" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/47.1-15/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2007, cc. 269, 590; 2008, c. 685; 2011, cc. 731, 834.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
