What primary responsibility does a notary have when performing notarizations?

The primary responsibility of a notary when performing notarizations is to prevent fraud and verify identities. This critical function is at the core of a notary's role, as it ensures that the individuals signing the document are who they claim to be. To accomplish this, a notary typically requires valid identification from the signer and must confirm their willingness to sign without any coercion or undue influence.

Notaries act as impartial witnesses to the signing of documents, which contributes to the integrity of various legal processes. By establishing the identity of the signers and ensuring that the environment and conditions surrounding the signing are legitimate, notaries help maintain trust in the integrity of assorted documents, such as contracts and affidavits. This responsibility is fundamental to the notarial process, as it directly impacts the validity of the notarized documents and helps prevent fraudulent activities.

The other options, while they may pertain to aspects of a notary's duties, do not capture the essence of the notarial function as directly as verifying identities and preventing fraud. For example, while recording transactions in a journal is an essential practice for accountability in many jurisdictions, it is not the primary responsibility during the act of notarization itself. Similarly, ensuring documents are filed properly pertains to administrative processes that