What condition must be met before a notary public can perform a notarial act related to their own interest?

A notary public is generally prohibited from performing notarial acts in which they or their spouse has a direct interest. This rule is in place to maintain the integrity and impartiality of the notarial process. Notaries serve as unbiased witnesses to the signing of documents, and performing notarial acts involving their own interests could lead to conflicts of interest and compromise the trust placed in the notarial system.

This prohibition ensures that all parties involved in the transaction can trust that the notary is impartial and not motivated by personal gain. Allowing a notary to act in situations where they have a personal interest would undermine the fundamental principles of neutrality and fairness that are essential to the role of a notary.

The other options do not align with these principles. For example, stating that a notary can perform any act regardless of interest contradicts the ethical standards required of notaries. Disclosing an interest before the act or having a legal representative present does not resolve the conflict created by the notary's personal interest in the document being notarized. Hence, the correct understanding is that notaries must refrain from performing acts where they or their spouses have a direct interest to uphold the integrity of the notarial function.