Can an Arkansas notary serve as a witness for a document they have notarized?

An Arkansas notary can serve as a witness for a document they have notarized, but doing so may indeed lead to conflicts of interest. This is because the responsibilities of a notary public are to be impartial and maintain neutrality when notarizing documents. If the notary also acts as a witness, it could raise questions about their impartiality, especially if the document is later contested.

The primary role of a notary is to verify the identity of the signers and ensure that they are signing willingly and understanding the contents of the document. If a notary serves as a witness, they might be seen as having a vested interest in the transaction, which could undermine the reliability of the notarization. Thus, while it is technically permissible, it is advisable for notaries to refrain from this dual role to maintain the integrity of their position and to avoid any potential challenges to the notarized document's validity.