What Notaries Do, Where They Notarize, and Examples of Their Work
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Explain What a Notary Is.
A notary is a duly designated someone who serves as an impartial witness during the signing of a legal document. A notary public is usually needed for the signing of bills of sale, real estate deeds, affidavits, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other legal transactional documents. The main duty of a notary public is to stop fraud.
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Understanding the Role of a Notary
A notary, sometimes referred to as a notary public, can be hired to provide trustworthy documentation or to verify that a transaction occurred and was properly documented. A document cannot be notarized until a proclaimed commitment is made. It is also necessary to have the parties’ original signatures on the document.
Before signing a document, notaries demand picture identification from each party. The notary may refuse to validate the document if there is evidence of fraud or if they have doubts about the identity of the signing parties. Subsequently, the notary’s seal and a notarial certificate verifying the signatures are applied to seal the document.
The Notary’s Past
According to the National Notary Association (NNA), notaries were in use as early as 2750 BCE in Egypt and Sumeria. The Egyptians called these writers and eyewitnesses “scribes,” and they wrote down a great deal of ancient history. Using notarii and scribae, the Roman Empire kept official records that documented everything from speeches to the weather. The earliest known notary was Tiro, a Roman servant who created a shorthand for voice recording.
In addition, the Chinese used scribes to document lectures, events, and labor and resource data. They also provided the state with comprehensive accounting services.
The sons of notaries includes writer Mark Twain, Salvador Dali, Leonardo Da Vinci, and US President Calvin Coolidge, the thirty-first president of the United States. Coolidge is the only president to date whose father held the office of notary public.
Since the 1900s, there have been more female notaries than male notaries, according to the NNA.
Beginning Your Notary Career
The procedure for becoming a notary public varies from state to state. Generally speaking, notaries must be at least eighteen years old and reside in the state in which they have a license.
The cost of taking the notary oath, office supplies, training, and bond are all included in the price. Notaries are not permitted to provide legal advice, and doing so might result in sanctions. They also have to abstain from acting when it comes to situations in which they have a personal interest.
Although state regulations vary, in general, the majority of states require that you:
fulfill your responsibilities to the state
Enroll in and attend an authorized notary training session.
Achieve perfection on the exam
Complete an application, get it notarized, and submit it with the required supporting documentation.
Purchase your notary seal, pay the required amount, and take the oath of office upon approval.
In certain places, a person is prohibited from becoming a notary public if they have previously been convicted of a crime or misdemeanor.
Where Can You Notarize a Document?
Many notaries create websites or listings with lots of contact information in addition to providing their services. Numerous package stores, post offices, postal services, and copy centers employ notaries. Here are a few places where a document can be notarized:
Post offices
Banks and credit unions
Real estate firms
Tax and accounting offices
Libraries
Colleges
moving stores
You may also look for local online notaries by conducting an internet search. Some governments began looking at options for electronic and remote notary services during the Covid-19 epidemic. Some jurisdictions enacted legislation for Remote Online Notarization (RON) following the Covid-19 pandemic and outbreak.
You may utilize RON to get notary services online from anywhere as long as the requirements set out by your state are met. If you’d want to know if RON is available, you can reach out to your Secretary of State. Regulatory compliance is the responsibility of the Secretary of State’s office in the majority of states.
What Does a Notary Public Do?
An individual designated by a state government to witness signatures and verify that transactions or events documented on paper actually occurred is known as a notary public.
What Does It Take to Become a Notary Public?
To become a notary, you have to meet the requirements set out by your state in addition to completing an application and schooling process. It can also be required of you to sit for an exam. Once you pass away, you are sworn in as a notary.
What Is the Cost of Becoming a Notary Public?
There are differences in notary fees between states. In certain states, notaries must recertify, which raises the price. They must buy their seal as well.
The Last Word
Notaries have been essential to society and government for thousands of years. Notaries continue to ensure the veracity of the information they offer, from documenting past agricultural yields to digitally verifying documents and signatures.
Every state and every county has notaries. There are notaries public in many commercial establishments; some could even live next door. If you live far away or are unable to find a notary in any other manner, many states have approved legislation to make it easier to obtain your documents notarized remotely utilizing technology.
