HRS §456-22
When a notary can say no
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗A notary can refuse to notarize a document if they doubt the signer's ability, free choice, or identity. They can also refuse for any other legal reason, unless another law forces them to do it.
notaries
The statute, as written — Authority to refuse to perform notarial act
A copy, taken August 20, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) A notary public may refuse to perform a notarial act if the notary public is not satisfied that: (1) The person executing the document is competent or has the capacity to execute the document; (2) The person's signature is knowingly and voluntarily made; or (3) The notary public has proof of the signer's signature and identity or, if the person is a remotely located individual, satisfactory evidence of the identity under section 456-23. (b) A notary public may refuse to perform a notarial act unless the refusal is prohibited by any provision of law other than this chapter.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.