A notary public can delegate their official authorities and duties to:
Notaries cannot delegate their duties to anyone, including attorneys.
Notaries cannot delegate their official duties to anyone, including personal assistants.
Notaries cannot delegate their official duties to anyone, including family members.
New York treats notarial powers as personal to the officeholder; a notary acts only under the commission issued by the Secretary of State under Executive Law § 130, and there is no statutory authority permitting delegation of those powers to another person. Judiciary Law § 135 also frames misconduct around the notary’s own acts and omissions, which confirms the duties must be performed by the commissioned notary, not an agent or substitute.
Explanation
A notary’s powers are personal and tied to the office, so they cannot be transferred to another person. The source says official misconduct includes “performing unauthorized acts” and “not performing the duties of a notary when requested,” showing the duties must be performed by the notary themselves.