A Notary requires identification from anyone who is signing the document.
A notary public is a person authorized to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths and affirmations. Their primary role is to verify the identity of the signers, ensure they are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly, and deter fraud by certifying the authenticity of the signatures.
Some common duties of a notary public include:
- Witnessing the signing of legal documents such as deeds, contracts, affidavits, and powers of attorney.
- Administering oaths and affirmations for affidavits or other sworn statements.
- Certifying copies of certain documents as true copies of the original.
- Taking acknowledgments, which is when a person signs a document and declares to the notary that they did so voluntarily.
- Verifying the identity of the signers by checking their identification documents.
The notary’s official seal or stamp is typically affixed to the document along with their signature, indicating that the necessary steps were taken to verify the identity of the signers and ensure the document’s authenticity.