What does a notary public do?

What a notary public does is witness the signing of the documents and ask each party for an oath of authenticity. The holder of a notary license is a person legally authorized by a state to administer oaths, take acknowledgments, and certify documents. A notary will not exercise any power or jurisdiction in criminal cases.

A notary must make sure that the person signing a document to be notarized is who they say they are. Because identities are critical, a notary public may also spend some time verifying the names of the parties involved in the signature.

A misconception about a notary license is that its official signature and / or raised seal automatically makes a document “true and legal.” Documents certified by notaries public are stamped with the seal of the notary and are registered by the notary public in a register kept by him / her.

The stamp of the licensees shall be a stamp press or a rubber stamp. These will be the exclusive property of the notary. Your signature and seal are required to authenticate signatures on many legal documents. They then verify the identity of the person, usually with a driver’s license, press the stamp of the document and sign it.

If you are an inpatient, you can also ask the unit nurse or secretary to coordinate the services of a notary public free of charge. Additionally, mailbox stores, copy services, and banks often provide notary services to the public.

Authentication of the signature of a notary public is often required when foreign and other jurisdictions are involved. The public can access this record and verify the “official” signature of the notary at the county clerk’s office. Otherwise, a sample of the notary’s signature and seal must first be authenticated by the competent provincial authority responsible for notaries public.

Each licensee will have an ex officio stamp, which will be affixed to his publishing instruments and to his protests. The mandate is usually four years from the effective date specified in the notarial commission. The Office of the Secretary of State conducts random background checks on individuals who file new or renewed notary public license applications. The applicant cannot act as a Notary Public until he receives his certificate of appointment from this office. A designated licensee can begin notarizing documents after receiving a certificate of appointment from the Secretary of State.