{"id":544,"date":"2014-12-11T13:40:49","date_gmt":"2014-12-11T20:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/abclegaldocs.com\/blog-Colorado-Notary\/?p=544"},"modified":"2025-12-03T18:02:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T01:02:40","slug":"coercion-duress-undue-influence-notarizing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abclegaldocs.com\/blog-Colorado-Notary\/coercion-duress-undue-influence-notarizing\/","title":{"rendered":"Coercion, Duress, Undue Influence When Notarizing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"coercion<\/a>Coercion, Duress, Undue Influence When Notarizing<\/h1>\n

A notary<\/strong> may decline or refuse to notarize<\/a><\/strong><\/span> a document if it appears that a signer is not signing willingly<\/strong>, by their own free will<\/strong>, due to pressure, threat, intimidation, indoctrination, coercion<\/strong>, duress<\/strong>, enticement, or undue influence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If other people are present and trying to force or influence the signer, the notary may ask the other people to remain quiet, to wait in another room, or to leave so the signer can make a free-will decision without pressure or undue influence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This situation may arise with senior citizens<\/strong>, a person with a disability, or with sick, weak, frail or vulnerable patients in a hospital<\/strong> or nursing home<\/strong>, if friends, caregivers or family members are attempting to exert pressure or\u00a0undue influence<\/strong> on the signer.\u00a0 The signer must sign of his\/her own free will<\/strong>.\u00a0 This does not mean that the signer is always happy to sign, depending on circumstances and the nature of the document.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Signing Reluctantly<\/span><\/h2>\n

The document\u00a0might be a legal settlement<\/strong>, where the signer agrees to pay money to settle a debt or dispute.\u00a0 It may be an end of life<\/strong> document, such as a will<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, living will<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, do not resuscitate (DNR), or disposition of last remains instructions.\u00a0 It might be a real estate or motor vehicle sale, where the seller is disappointed that he\/she did not get a better price or better offer.\u00a0 There may be some reluctance<\/strong>, but that is different from being pressured or\u00a0forced<\/strong> to sign.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Signature by Proxy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sometimes family<\/strong> members will attempt to help a signer in a hospital<\/strong>\u00a0or nursing home<\/strong> that is weak or injured and not able to sign.\u00a0 The family member may attempt to grab and guide the hand<\/strong> of the signer.\u00a0 That is not allowed.<\/p>\n

If the signer is too weak, injured or unable to sign, but willingly<\/strong> wants to sign, the signer may request for another person to\u00a0sign for him\/her, in the presence of the notary.\u00a0 This is known as a signature by proxy<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, and the procedure is described in Colorado notary law, CRS 24-21-509.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Undue Influence of At-risk Adults, Elders, and Juveniles<\/span><\/h2>\n

A notary<\/strong> should watch for possible signs of abuse<\/strong>, neglect or exploitation when dealing with senior citizens, or any person with a disability<\/strong>.\u00a0 Incidents of abuse may be reported to adult protective services<\/strong>, a health care ombudsman<\/strong>, or law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Colorado law CRS 18-6.5-108<\/a><\/span> requires\u00a0mandatory reporting<\/strong> for people in certain occupations, including\u00a0health care, nursing homes, pharmacists, guardians and conservators, social services, clergy, banks, lenders, and law enforcement, to report elder abuse or exploitation to law enforcement. Notaries and attorneys are not listed.<\/p>\n

Colorado law CRS 18-6.5-102<\/a><\/span> defines several at-risk categories. “At-risk adult<\/strong>” means any person who is seventy years<\/strong> of age or older or any\u00a0person who is eighteen years<\/strong> of age or older and is a person with a disability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“At-risk elder<\/strong>” means any person who is seventy years<\/strong> of age or older.\u00a0“At-risk juvenile<\/strong>” means any person who is under the age of eighteen years\u00a0<\/strong>and is a person with a disability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“Exploitation<\/strong>” means an act or omission committed by a person who uses deception, harassment, intimidation, or undue influence<\/strong> to permanently\u00a0or temporarily deprive an at-risk elder of the use, benefit, or possession of his or her\u00a0money, assets, or property.<\/p>\n

“Person with a disability<\/strong>” means any person who is impaired due to\u00a0permanent loss of use of a hand or foot, blindness,\u00a0unable to walk, see, hear, or speak,\u00a0unable to breathe without mechanical assistance,\u00a0with an intellectual and developmental disability,\u00a0with a mental illness, or\u00a0is mentally impaired with\u00a0any mental or psychological\u00a0disorder, organic brain syndrome, or specific learning disability.<\/p>\n

“Undue influence<\/strong>” means the use of influence by someone who exercises\u00a0authority over an at-risk elder in order to take unfair advantage<\/strong> of the at-risk elder’s\u00a0vulnerable<\/strong> state of mind, neediness, pain, or agony.<\/p>\n

Any person who obtains control over anything of value of another without authorization or by threat or deception commits theft, as defined in CRS\u00a018-4-401.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Warning Indicators of Undue Influence<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are some warning\u00a0indicators<\/strong>\u00a0that might indicate undue influence<\/strong> or an agent or adviser exceeding authority:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Vulnerable Person<\/strong>. a susceptible at-risk person whose free will may become surrendered, manipulated or dominated to the unfair benefit of an influencing party by exploitation.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Unreasonable Actions<\/strong>. provisions or changes in a document, or choice of agent or adviser, or actions that are extreme, unusual, suspicious, unnatural, unreasonable, drastic, sudden, unfair, exploitative or very different than the signer’s current document, or previously expressed wishes or decision, or that the signer would have otherwise normally chosen without undue influence.<\/li>\n
  3. Censorship of Other Influence<\/strong>. a dominating influential person, rushing, pressuring, bullying, censoring, isolating, indoctrinating or preventing the signer from reviewing, discussing or critically analyzing the document or decision with an attorney, adviser, agency, trusted family member or friend, or another knowledgeable person or resource with more information, or a different opinion, to allow careful consideration of the pros, cons, and other alternatives, before making an important decision.<\/li>\n
  4. Secrecy<\/strong>. an objection from a proposed or designated agent or adviser to including provisions for record-keeping<\/strong>, a co-agent, monitoring<\/strong>, supervising, auditing, disclosing or verifying their records, actions or background.<\/li>\n
  5. Power Grab<\/strong>. opportunity for a proposed or designated agent or adviser to obtain more secrecy, power, control, benefits, assets or authority, including irrevocable or hot powers<\/strong><\/a><\/span> in a power of attorney<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/li>\n
  6. Ignoring Principal<\/strong>. designated agent or adviser making decisions without discussion or approval of the principal, or ignoring, dismissing or ridiculing concerns, warnings, opinions or advice raised by the principal or other interested parties.<\/li>\n
  7. Bad Reputation<\/strong>. dominating person with a history, behavior or reputation of dishonesty, fraud, theft, crime, manipulation, exploitation, greed, arrogance, anger, intimidation or abuse.<\/li>\n
  8. Warning Signs<\/strong>. expressions of concern, worry, fear, suspicion or anger about undue influence from family members, friends, advisers, or other victims.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For a last will and testament, the Colorado Supreme Court discussed undue influence in the case of Ofstad v. Sarconi. The court said it can be hard to show when undue influence exists because there may not be direct evidence and there is “no precise formula.”\u00a0The court said circumstances that may indicate undue influence are:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. A confidential relationship between the victim and the alleged influencer<\/li>\n
    2. Terms in a\u00a0will that benefit the perpetrator<\/li>\n
    3. Mental or physical illness of the victim<\/li>\n
    4. A will kept secret from the victim’s relatives<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Notaries do not review legal documents, or diagnose medical or psychological conditions, and do not receive any special training in detecting coercion<\/strong>,\u00a0duress<\/strong> or undue influence<\/strong>.\u00a0 The notary should use reasonable care<\/strong>, as a layperson<\/strong>, to try to detect and prevent coercion, duress or\u00a0undue influence<\/strong> from interfering with the free will of\u00a0a signer.<\/p>\n

      A person with diminished capacity<\/strong>\u00a0or a concerned party may want to schedule an exam with a medical professional to evaluate the competency status of the signer for contractual capacity<\/strong> or testamentary capacity<\/strong>, to avoid or prepare for potential challenges.<\/p>\n

      A notary<\/strong> must be neutral<\/strong> and impartial<\/strong> and should not encourage or discourage a signer from signing a document.<\/p>\n

      Visit our website for Colorado Springs Mobile Notary<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0services or Colorado Notary Training<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>classes.<\/p>\n

      [Last-Modified Date 2017-04-08] add page links, new image<\/p>\n

      \u00a9 Copyright 2014 ABC Legal Docs, LLC All rights reserved. Do not copy. Citations welcome. Terms of Use apply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Coercion, Duress, Undue Influence When Notarizing A notary may decline or refuse to notarize a document if it appears that a signer is not signing willingly, by their own free will, due to pressure, threat, intimidation, indoctrination, coercion, duress, enticement, or undue influence. If other people are present and trying to force or influence the signer, the notary may ask the other people to remain quiet, to wait in another room, or to leave so the signer can make a free-will decision without pressure or undue influence. This situation may arise with senior citizens, a person with a disability, or <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[850,2156,2157,2993,836,17,143,225,849,2158,848,142,2149,379,2992,2154,100,5,76,851,85,170,94,847,199,521,846],"class_list":["post-544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-notary-law","tag-adult-protective-services","tag-at-risk-adult","tag-at-risk-elder","tag-bullying","tag-coercion","tag-colorado","tag-disability","tag-duress","tag-elder-abuse","tag-exploitation","tag-free-will","tag-hospital","tag-hot-powers","tag-impartial","tag-indoctrination","tag-monitor","tag-neutral","tag-notary","tag-nursing-home","tag-ombudsman","tag-poa","tag-proxy","tag-reasonable-care","tag-senior-citizen","tag-signature","tag-undue-influence","tag-willingly","has_thumb"],"yoast_head":"\nCoercion, Duress, Undue Influence When Notarizing - 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