A notary public is an official authorized to witness the signing of important documents, administer oaths, and perform other administrative functions. Their main role is to prevent fraud by verifying the identity of signers and ensuring that they understand the contents of the document they are signing.
Common Services Provided by Notaries
- Document Witnessing: Verifying the identity of individuals signing documents.
- Acknowledgements: Certifying that the signer personally appeared before the notary, was identified by the notary, and acknowledged signing the document willingly.
- Jurat: Administering oaths and witnessing the signing of documents that require an oath.
- Copy Certification: Attesting that a photocopy of an original document is a true and accurate reproduction.
- Affidavits: Certifying written statements sworn to be true
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How to Find a Notary
- Banks and Credit Unions: Many financial institutions offer notary services to their customers.
- Mail Services: Locations like UPS stores and other shipping stores often have a notary on staff.
- Law Offices: Many law firms provide notary services.
- Online Notary Services: Some states allow for electronic notarization, where the notary and the signer meet over video conferencing tools.
Why You Might Need a Notary
- Real estate transactions
- Legal documents, like affidavits and powers of attorney
- Financial agreements
- Medical directives
- Immigration documents