What responsibility does a notary have when a party cannot appear in person?

A notary has the responsibility to ensure that the parties involved in a notarization are present and properly identified. If a party cannot appear in person, refusing to notarize the document is the appropriate course of action, as the notary must verify the identity of the individual before performing the notarization. Notarizing a document without the individual in attendance undermines the integrity of the notarization process, as it would not allow for proper verification of identity, which is a fundamental requirement of the notary's role.

Conducting notarizations via phone is not permissible, as it does not satisfy the requirement for in-person identification. Similarly, setting up a video call, while it may seem plausible in the digital age, is not a standard procedure under New Jersey notary laws unless specifically allowed, as face-to-face verification is key. Finally, notarizing without checking identity directly contradicts the responsibilities of a notary, as it could lead to fraud and the invalidation of the notarial act. Therefore, the only responsible action when a party cannot appear in person is to refuse to notarize until the individual can be properly identified in compliance with established legal standards.