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Frequently Asked Questions About Notary Publics

What is a Notary Public?

A Notary Public is a state appointed Public servant who witnesses the signing of important documents and conducts oaths.

How Long Have Notaries Been Around?

The Notary Public goes all the way back to early roman times, when the Pope appointed Bishops of Canterbury as Notary Publics to deal with legal notes. These Bishops, referred to as Notaries, dealt with land transfers, marriage proposals, and criminal matters that required witnesses.

Why Do I Need a Notary?

Legal documents are often notarized in order to avoid fraud and ensure they are properly executed. A Notary acts as an identifier, ensuring all signers are who they say they are and understand the agreements they are signing.

How Does a Notary Verify Identification?

The Notary will ask to verify identity through picture identification with a physical description and signature. Driver’s licenses, military ids, or passports are usually sufficient. If the Notary is unsure about a signer’s identity, willingness, or mental state, or has any reason to suspect fraud, they may refuse to serve.

Are Notarizations Required By Law?

It depends on the documents. Many affidavits, deeds, and other documents may not be bound legally until they are properly notarized. In cases where a notarization is not required, individuals may wish to notarize documents in order to protect them from fraud. That being said, a notarization does not make a document “legal.” It simply means the Notary witnessed the acknowledgment of the signer under oath and the agreement that the contents of the document are correct.

Do Notaries Prepare Legal Documents?

No. A Notary may not prepare legal documents, or even act as a legal advisor in any way, unless they are also an attorney. Violating this rule may lead to prosecution. They cannot provide advice about your documents.

There are certain Notaries that can do more than others, such as sign off on divorce papers or deed transfers. When you are looking for a Notary Public, find one that suites your specific needs. In this day and age, many people can be assigned the status of Notary Public. You could hold the title of Notary Public if you are a doctor, lawyer, priest, or even an average Joe.

Universal Document Express is a national mobile notary document signing services company, providing thousands of notary public signing agents and mobile notaries. Please feel free to distribute this article as is, including the bio. For further information, please contact us.