Many states specifically define a Notary’s role as acting as an impartial, third-party witness, and some, such as California, prohibit Notaries from refusing lawful requests. The Florida Department of State offers guidelines for when Florida Notaries can refuse services. Texas permits refusing if the Notary has reason to believe the signer is coerced or unaware, that the document will be used for illegal purposes, or if the Notary is unfamiliar with the requested act. None of these three states permits refusing a notarization simply because the documents conflicts with the Notary's personal beliefs or preferences.
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