Ace the Illinois Notary Primer 2026 – Your Journey to Notary Stardom Starts Here!

A financial or beneficial interest exists for a Notary when they are designated as a principal in a transaction. This is because being a principal means that the Notary has a direct stake in the outcome of the transaction, which could impact their impartiality and ability to act as an unbiased official.

In notarial practice, it is crucial that a Notary remains neutral and does not have any personal interest in the transaction being notarized. A Notary's role is to provide an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to validate the identities of the parties involved, without any conflict of interest.

This understanding helps ensure that the integrity of the notarial act is maintained, as any financial or beneficial interest could undermine the trust placed in the Notary's certification. In contrast, receiving a lawful fee or witnessing the transaction does not inherently create a conflict of interest, while simply benefiting from the transaction would be indirect and not as clear-cut in establishing a Notary's impartiality.