The Unsung Hero of Legal Documents: What a Notary Does

Important documents to be singed.

Ever signed a document and been asked to get it "notarized"? You might wonder, what exactly does a notary do? They're more than just a stamp and signature!

A notary public is a state-authorized official who plays a crucial role in preventing fraud and ensuring the integrity of legal documents. They act as impartial witnesses, verifying the identities of signers and confirming their willingness to enter into agreements. Here's a breakdown of their key duties:

Core Functions:

• Identity Verifications: Notaries meticulously check the identity of signers, often using government-issued ID's, to prevent impersonation and fraudulent signatures.

• Witnessing Signatures: They observe the signing of documents, ensuring the signer is doing so willingly and knowingly.

• Administering Oaths and Affirmations: Notaries can administer oaths and affirmations, which are sworn statements used in legal proceedings.

• Certifying Copies: In some cases, notaries can certify copies of certain documents, verifying that they are true and accurate reproduction of the originals.

• Acknowledgments: Acknowledgment is a formal declaration before a notary public by a person who signed a document, that he or she did sign the document.

• Jurats: A jurat is a clause added to an affidavit stating when, where, and before whom the affidavit was sworn.

• Loan Signings: Many notaries specialize in loan signings, overseeing the signing of complex mortgage and real estate documents.

• Apostille: Notaries may also assist with obtaining apostilles, which are certifications used to authenticate documents for international use.

Why Notaries Matter:

Notaries are essential for various legal processes, including:

• Real Estate transactions

• Will and Trusts

• Power of attorney documents

• Affidavits and depositions

• International business dealings

By verifying identities and witnessing signatures, notaries provide a layer of protection against fraud and ensure the validity of important documents. They are trusted guardians of document integrity, playing a vital role in our legal system.