Common Notary Public Services
Whether you need to notarize a legal document, business agreement, authorization, affidavit, or other important paperwork, understanding common notary services can help you prepare for your appointment and avoid unnecessary delays.
What Is a Notary Public?
A Notary Public is a person authorized by a state to perform specific official acts involving documents and signatures.
Depending on the jurisdiction and type of notarization, a notary may:
- Verify the identity of a signer.
- Witness a signature.
- Administer an oath or affirmation.
- Complete a notarial certificate.
- Record the notarization in a journal when required.
- Apply an official notary seal or stamp.
- Help confirm that a signer is acting voluntarily.
A notary generally does not provide legal advice or determine whether the contents of a document are legally appropriate. The signer is responsible for understanding what they are signing.
Common Notary Public Services
Notaries may provide several different services depending on state law and their authorization. Some of the most common include the following.
Signature Notarization
One of the most common reasons people visit a Notary Public is to have a signature notarized.
This may be required for documents involving:
- Personal transactions.
- Business agreements.
- Real estate documents.
- Financial transactions.
- Powers of attorney.
- Affidavits.
- Authorization forms.
- Certain government documents.
During the appointment, the notary typically verifies the signer's identity and follows the applicable procedure before completing the notarial certificate.
Affidavit Notarization
An affidavit is a written statement in which a person declares that certain information is true, usually under oath or affirmation.
Affidavits may be used for different purposes, including:
- Legal proceedings.
- Financial matters.
- Insurance matters.
- Residency-related documentation.
- Property issues.
- Personal declarations.
If an affidavit requires notarization, the signer generally must appear before the notary and complete the required oath or affirmation.
Acknowledgments
An acknowledgment is a common type of notarial act.
In an acknowledgment, the signer confirms that they signed the document voluntarily or that the signature is theirs, depending on the applicable procedure and state law.
Acknowledgments are commonly associated with documents such as:
- Deeds.
- Contracts.
- Powers of attorney.
- Business documents.
- Certain financial documents.
The exact requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Jurats
A jurat is another common notarial act. It generally involves the signer signing a document in the presence of the notary and taking an oath or affirmation regarding the truthfulness of the document.
Jurats are often used with:
- Affidavits.
- Sworn statements.
- Declarations.
- Certain legal forms.
The notary's role is to administer the oath or affirmation and complete the appropriate notarial certificate.
Power of Attorney Notarization
A Power of Attorney allows one person to authorize another person to act on their behalf in certain matters.
Depending on the type of power of attorney and applicable law, notarization may be required or recommended.
These documents may relate to:
- Financial matters.
- Property transactions.
- Business affairs.
- Personal affairs.
- Specific transactions.
Because powers of attorney can have significant legal consequences, a Notary Public generally cannot tell you which type of power of attorney you should use. If you have questions about the legal effect of the document, you should consult an attorney.
Real Estate Document Notarization
Real estate transactions frequently involve documents that require notarization.
Examples can include:
- Deeds.
- Certain loan documents.
- Property transfers.
- Affidavits.
- Trust-related documents.
- Other transaction documents.
A notary helps verify the identity of the signer and properly complete the applicable notarial act.
Business Document Notarization
Businesses may need notarization for a variety of documents.
Common examples include:
- Business agreements.
- Corporate documents.
- Authorization forms.
- Vendor agreements.
- Statements and affidavits.
- Certain financial documents.
- Documents involving business ownership or transactions.
Business owners may use notary services when a document requires an independent witness to the signing or when notarization is specifically required by an organization.
Loan and Financial Document Notarization
Banks, lenders, title companies, and other financial organizations may require certain documents to be notarized.
These may include:
- Loan documents.
- Refinancing paperwork.
- Financial affidavits.
- Certain authorization documents.
- Real estate financing documents.
Some specialized loan-signing services may be performed by a Notary Signing Agent, depending on the transaction and applicable requirements.
Vehicle Title and Transfer Documents
Certain vehicle-related documents may require notarization depending on the state and the specific transaction.
Examples can include:
- Vehicle title documents.
- Bills of sale.
- Authorization forms.
- Certain transfer documents.
- Affidavits related to vehicle ownership.
Before visiting a notary, it is a good idea to verify the requirements of your state DMV or the organization requesting the document.
Guardianship and Authorization Documents
Some authorization documents involving children or other family matters may require notarization.
Examples can include certain:
- Travel consent forms.
- Authorization letters.
- Guardianship-related documents.
- Caregiver authorization forms.
Requirements vary considerably depending on the purpose of the document and the jurisdiction involved.
Immigration-Related Documents
People involved in immigration matters may encounter documents that require notarization.
A notary may be able to notarize a signature or administer an oath when permitted by applicable law.
However, a Notary Public is not automatically an immigration attorney or accredited immigration representative. A notary should not provide legal advice about immigration matters unless separately authorized to do so under the applicable laws.
Certified Copy Services
Some jurisdictions permit notaries to perform certain copy certification services, while others restrict or prohibit notaries from certifying copies of particular documents.
For this reason, it is important to determine what type of document you need copied and what organization will receive it.
Documents such as government-issued identification, birth certificates, or other vital records may have special rules regarding copies.
Oaths and Affirmations
Notaries may also administer oaths or affirmations.
An oath is a formal declaration associated with a person's commitment to tell the truth. An affirmation serves a similar purpose without requiring a religious oath.
These services may be needed for:
- Affidavits.
- Sworn statements.
- Declarations.
- Certain legal documents.
- Other documents requiring a formal declaration.
What Should You Bring to a Notary Appointment?
Being prepared can make the notarization process easier.
Depending on the circumstances, you may need:
A Valid Form of Identification
A notary generally needs to verify your identity using an acceptable identification document under state law.
Examples may include:
- Driver's license.
- State-issued identification card.
- Passport.
- Other acceptable government-issued identification.
The specific requirements depend on the jurisdiction.
The Document
Bring the complete document that needs to be notarized.
Unless specifically instructed otherwise, do not sign the document before your appointment. Some notarizations require the signer to sign in the presence of the notary.
All Required Signers
If multiple people must sign the document, make sure everyone who needs notarization is available and meets the identification requirements.
Additional Information
Some documents may require witnesses, additional forms, or specific instructions from the organization receiving the document.
It is helpful to confirm these requirements before scheduling your appointment.
What a Notary Public Usually Cannot Do
Understanding the limits of notary services is important.
A Notary Public generally cannot:
- Give legal advice unless separately qualified and authorized.
- Choose a legal document for you.
- Tell you which contract is best for your situation.
- Change the contents of your document to achieve a legal result.
- Guarantee that a document will be accepted by another organization.
- Determine whether the underlying transaction is legally valid.
The notary's role is generally limited to performing the authorized notarial act.