The words

A notary who is a party to a transaction, or directly and pecuniarily interested in it, cannot act; an acknowledgment taken by an interested notary is a nullity.

The actual law, so it can’t scare you later.

Actually means

If the deal touches your wallet or your name is on the paper, hands off.

Plain English. No legalese survives this step.

Live example

You are the mortgagee on a loan. You cannot take the mortgagor’s acknowledgment; the recorded document would be void.

A scene you can picture.

Killer question

The carve-out is Executive Law 138: a corporate stockholder, officer, or employee MAY notarize for the corporation unless personally a party or interested. Interest disqualifies, not family.

Exactly how the exam asks it.