New York State Notary Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The term for a notary who refuses to perform a service due to a conflict of interest is recusal. In the context of notary practice, recusal is important because it upholds the integrity and impartiality that is essential in notarial services. When a notary recognizes a situation where their impartiality could be compromised—perhaps because they have a personal stake in the transaction involved—they should recuse themselves from performing that notarization. This action ensures that all parties can trust the notary's neutrality and objectivity.

Negligence refers to a failure to act with the care that a reasonable person would exercise, which does not specifically relate to the refusal to act due to a conflict of interest. Notarial misconduct is a broader term that encompasses violations of notary laws and ethical standards but does not specifically denote the proper action taken in situations of conflict. Insubordination typically pertains to failure to follow orders within a hierarchal structure and is not relevant to the actions of an impartial notary.