What Is a Notary?

A notary is a publicly commissioned official who serves as an impartial witness during the signing of legal documents. Notaries help prevent fraud and ensure that transactions, like real estate deeds, affidavits, wills, trusts, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:powers of attorney, and bills of sale, are carrie💜d out with the proper documentation and authentication.

Understanding the Role of a Notary

A notary, or notary public, plays an essential role in legal and transactional matters by verifying that a document was signed correctly and by the right parties. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Notarization involves several steps, including:

• Identification: Notaries ask for photo identification from all parties involved to confirm their identities.
• Witnessing Signatures: The notary ensures that each party voluntarily signs the document.
• Certifying the Document: After witnessing the signing, the notary affixes a seal or stamp to the document, which includes a notarial certificate indicating the transaction occurred.
  

Notary History

According to the National Notary Association (NNA), notaries were used as far back as 2750 B.C.E. in Egypt and Sumeria. Called scribes by the Egyptians, these writers and witnesses documented much of the history of the ancient world. The Roman Empire used notarii and scribae to witness and document everything from speeches to weather and to create official documents. The first recognized notary was Tiro, a Roman servant who developed a shorthand for recording speeches.

The Chinese also used scribes to document events, teachings, log resource and labor data, and help the state function with detailed accounting.

Writer Mark Twain was a notary, while Salvador Dali, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States, were the sons of notaries. Coolidge remains the only president sworn into office by a notary, his father.

Women were not allowed to be notaries until the 1900s but now outnumber male notaries, according to the NNA.

How to Become a Notary

꧋ The steps to becoming a notary vary from state to state. Broadly, notaries must be at least 18 years old and reside in the state where they are licensed.

Costs to become a notary include training, supplies, a bond, and the oath of office. Notaries cannot give legal advice and can be fined for doing so. They are also not to act in situations where they have a personal interest.

Requirements vary, bꦐut in general,ꦺ most states require you to:

• Meet all state requirements
• Register for an approved notary course and attend it
• Pass an exam
• Complete an application, get it notarized and submit it with any required documentation
• Upon approval, take your oath of office, pay a fee, and buy your notary seal

Additionally, many states do not allow someone to become a notary if they have a prior felony or misdemeanor conviction.

Where Can I Notarize a Document?

Many notaries 🦩provide their services and create listings or web pages with contact information. Many packaging stores, postal centers, postal services, and copy centers have notaries employed also. Some places you can get a document notarized are:

• Post offices
• 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Banks and credit unions
• Real estate firms
• Tax and accounting Offices
• Libraries
• Colleges
• Shipping stores

Additionally, some states offer Remote Online Notarization (RON) services, which allow you to notarize documents online. Many states adopted RON during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains an option in several regions. To find a remote notary, check with your Secretary of State’s office.

The Bottom Line

Notaries have served an essential function in government and society for thousands of years. From documenting crop yields in the past to verifying docu🌳ments and signatures over the internet, notaries continue to ensure that information provided can be trusted.

All states and counties have notaries. You can find a notary in many businesses—you might even find one living next door. If you live in a remote area or cannot otherwise find a notary, many states have enacted legislation to make it easier to have your documents notarized through remote technologies.