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Misconduct & Prohibited Acts

A notary public unjustifiably refuses to administer an oath when lawfully requested. Which statement is legally accurate?

A

The refusal is only a private civil matter and is not a crime.

B

The refusal is official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year.

C

The refusal is issuing a false certificate, a class E felony punishable by up to 4 years.

D

The refusal is forgery in the second degree, a class D felony punishable by up to 7 years.

Correct Answer

B. The refusal is official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year.

AI Explanation

The booklet’s “Notary must officiate on request” note ties an unjustified refusal to administer an oath or take an affidavit to Penal Law §195.00. Official misconduct is a class A misdemeanor, and Penal Law §70.15 states that the maximum sentence for a class A misdemeanor is 1 year. The trap is not to confuse refusal to act with issuing a false certificate or forgery.

Misconduct & Prohibited Acts Question #39
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