What is the primary role of a notary public?

The primary role of a notary public is to authenticate the signing of documents and perform notarial acts. A notary serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, ensuring that the identities of the signers are verified and that they are signing without coercion. This function helps prevent fraud and provides a level of assurance that the signatures on a document are genuine.

Notaries are responsible for administering oaths, taking affidavits, and acknowledging signatures, among other duties. Their work is critical in situations where legal proof or verification is needed for the document to be valid, such as in real estate transactions, powers of attorney, and establishing identity for various legal documents.

The other options serve different purposes within the legal system. Representation in court and providing legal counsel imply a role that involves legal practice or advocacy, which falls outside the scope of a notary's duties. Similarly, conducting financial transactions involves a different set of responsibilities that do not pertain to the notarial function of witnessing and authenticating documents. The notary's role is specifically focused on maintaining integrity and trust in the notarization process.