Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Notary do?
A Notary’s duty is to screen the signers of important documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction. Some notarizations also require the Notary to put the signer under an oath, declaring under penalty of perjury that the information contained in a document is true and correct. Property deeds, wills and powers of attorney are examples of documents that commonly require a Notary.

What is Notarization?
Notarization is the official fraud-deterrent process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic, and can be trusted. It is a three-part process, performed by a Notary Public, that includes of vetting, certifying and record-keeping. Notarizations are sometimes referred to as “notarial acts.”

The Different Notarial Acts

Acknowledgments
An acknowledgment is typically performed on documents controlling or conveying ownership of valuable assets. Such documents include real property deeds, powers of attorney and trusts. For an acknowledgment, the signer must appear in person at the time of notarization to be positively identified and to declare (“acknowledge”) that the signature on the document is his or her own, that it was willingly made and that the provisions in the document are intended to take effect exactly as written.

Jurats
A jurat is typically performed on evidentiary documents that are critical to the operation of our civil and criminal justice system. Such documents include affidavits, depositions and interrogatories. For a jurat, the signer must appear in person at the time of notarization to sign the document and to speak aloud an oath or affirmation promising that the statements in the document are true. (An oath is a solemn pledge to a Supreme Being; an affirmation is an equally solemn pledge on one’s personal honor.) A person who takes an oath or affirmation in connection with an official proceeding may be prosecuted for perjury should he or she fail to be truthful.

Certified Copies
A copy certification is performed to confirm that a reproduction of an original document is true, exact and complete. Such originals might include college degrees, passports and other important one-and-only personal papers which cannot be copy-certified by a public record office such as a bureau of vital statistics and which the holder must submit for some purpose but does not want to part with for fear of loss. This type of notarization is not an authorized notarial act in every state, and in the jurisdictions where it is authorized, may be executed only with certain kinds of the original document.

Each state and U.S. territorial jurisdiction adopts its own laws governing the performance of notarial acts. While these different notarial laws are largely congruent when it comes to the most common notarizations, namely acknowledgments and jurats, there are unusual laws in a number of states. In the state of Washington, for example, certification of the occurrence of an act or event is an authorized notarization. And in Maine, Florida and South Carolina, performing a marriage rite is an allowed notarial act.

 What kind of documents can be notarized?

Bylaws
Corporate Formations
Trademark Filings
Estate Plans
Deed
Indemnity Agreements
Disolutions
Hold Harmless
Serrogacy Contract
Adoption Paperwork
Ammendments
Affirmations
Form ID
Visa Applciation
Secretary Certificate
Spousal Transfer
Oaths
School Diploma
Prenuptial Agreement
Visa Application

Digital Signature Certificate
Travel Minor Consent
Proof of Life
Mylar
Domicile
Form U2
Patent
Assignments
Background Check
Power of Attorney
Easement
Consent to Service
Condominium Conversion
Undertaking
Surety Bonds
​Will
​Contracts
​Trusts
​Board Resolution
HIPPA Authorization

Lien Waiver & Release
Promissory Note
Release of Interest
Title Transfer
Landlord Certificate
Advanced Health Directive
Commercial Registration
Insurance Claim
Specimen Signature
Homestead
Disclosure
Biographical Affidavit
Mail Receiving Application
Incorporations Certificate
Extract
​Copy Certification
Domestic Partnership
Transcript
​Retirement Benefits
​Designation

Non-Disclosure Agreement
Distribution Authorization
Declaration
Record Clearance
Loan Satisfaction Release
Personal Data Card
Utility Statement
Passport/ID
Correction Agreement
Certificate of Commons
Assessment
Subdivision Map
​Subordination
Delegation
Bill of Sale
​IRA Rollover
Vital Record Authorization
Application of Payment
Guarantee
​Lease Agreement