Section 36-20-73 Powers.

(a) Notaries public may do all of the following: (1) Administer oaths in all matters incident to the exercise of their office. (2) Take the acknowledgment or proof of instruments of writing relating to commerce or navigation and certify the same and all other of their official acts under their seal of office. (3) Demand acceptance and payment of bills of exchange, promissory notes, and all other writings that are governed by the commercial law as to days of grace, demand, and notice of nonpayment and protest the same for nonacceptance or nonpayment and give notice thereof as required by law. (4) Exercise such other powers, according to commercial usage or the laws of this state, as may belong to notaries public. (b) No notary public shall be obligated to perform a notarial act if he or she has a reason to believe the act is: (1) For a transaction that the notary public knows or suspects is illegal, false, or deceptive; (2) For an individual who is being coerced; or (3) For an individual whose demeanor causes compelling doubts as to whether the individual knows the consequences of the transaction requiring the notarial act.