What is NOT a responsibility of a notary public?

A notary public has a range of responsibilities primarily focused on the authentication and verification of various documents and actions. Administering oaths, notarizing legal documents, and witnessing signatures are all integral parts of a notary's duties. These tasks require a notary to verify the identity of signers and ensure that they are signing documents willingly and without duress, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the documents in question.

Preparing tax documents, on the other hand, falls outside the typical scope of a notary's responsibilities. Notaries are not authorized to provide legal advice or prepare legal documents such as tax forms. Their role is strictly to act as impartial witnesses during the signing of documents and to validate the identities of the parties involved. This distinction clarifies why the preparation of tax documents is not a responsibility of a notary public.