Must a notary determine the competence of the person signing the document?

Although there are differing opinions on whether a notary public has a duty to determine the person’s competency, many experts recommend that the notary make a limited inquiry into the person’s ability to understand the contents of the document that the person is signing. The notary can make a quick assessment by asking the person if he or she understands the document. Clearly, a notary should refuse to notarize the signature of a person who unquestionably has no ability to understand the document (unconscious, mentally disabled, etc.).