Notary Services 101

What is a notary public?

A Notary Public is an official appointed by a state government to serve the public as an impartial witness during notarizations. They are expected to follow statutory rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion.

What does a notary actually do?

Notaries perform notarizations, or notarial acts, to deter fraud and establish that the signer understands the document they're signing and that they're a willing participant in the transaction.

How do I know if my document needs notarization?

Documents that're commonly notarized by Paper or Electronically include (but are not limited to):
Affidavits, Quitclaim deeds, Power of attorney, Deed of trust, Parental Consent for Travel, Living trust, Temporary Guardianship Agreement.

Do I need to bring my ID, and what kinds are acceptable?

the Notary ask for identification documents issued by the state or federal government that contain:

A photograph
A physical description
The bearer's signature

Click arrow below for examples!

Can you travel to me, or do I need to come to you?

Yes! Your notary can meeting at your home, a public place like a library, or cafe, or even meet electronically.

What’s the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat?

An acknowledgement ensures that the signature on the document can be trusted by the receiving agency, meanwhile a jurat requires the signer to be compelled to truthfulness regarding the content of the document.

Can copies of documents be notarized?

Yes! Copies of private documents like personal contracts or physical copies of an electronic record can be certified. Public records, marriage/birth/death certificates or social security cards cannot be certified as copies.

Who needs to be present at the notarization?

All parties involved in the contents of the documents must be present at the document signing as well as any required witnesses.

Can the notarization happen electronically or online?

Yes, remote notarizations are available and documentation would be signed electronically. Clients must provide acceptable forms of identification and must have a device with microphone and camera capabilities.

How long does a notarization take?

Typically, notarizations can take from 30-45 minutes depending on the amount of documents, notarizations.

Should I sign the documents before the appointment?

Yes, although it's not advised. What is advised is to read your documents and ask the party who drafted them pressing questions

If I don't understand something in the documents, can you give me legal advice?

No. Your notary cannot give you legal advice, answer legal questions, nor interpret documentation.

Your notary can provide you answers to terms or explain what your documents are for.

Who can my witness be? Can you act as a witness too?

Yes, your notary can be a signature witness, but depending on the type of notarization needed, witnesses who are 18 or older, have no stake in the transaction, and must be able to show an acceptable form of identification.

Can you notarize something for me if I'm not in your state?

Yes

Does notarization make my document automatically legal and enforceable?

No. While it can be a piece of evidence in a dispute, notarization alone doesn't guarantee that a contract or agreement will be enforceable in court if the document itself is flawed or one party decides to breach it.

What if I can't make the appointment I scheduled?

Please refer to the service agreement for your specific circumstance.