| What a notary public does is witness the signing of | | | | or unit clerk to arrange for the services of a notary |
| the documents and ask each party for a sworn oath | | | | public without charge. Additionally, mail-box shops, |
| of authenticity. A notary (or a notary public) is a | | | | copy services, and banks often provide Notary |
| person legally authorized by a state to administer | | | | services to the public. |
| oaths, take acknowledgments & certify documents. | | | | Authentication of a Notary Public's signature is often |
| A notary public shall exercise no power or jurisdiction | | | | required when foreign and other jurisdictions are |
| in criminal cases. | | | | involved. The public may access this record and |
| A notary public must ensure that the person signing a | | | | verify the "official" signature of the notary at the |
| document to be notarized is who s/he says s/he is. | | | | county clerk's office. If not, then a sample of the |
| Because identities are critical, a notary public may also | | | | Notary's signature and seal must first be |
| spend some time verifying the names of the parties | | | | authenticated by the appropriate provincial authority |
| involved in the signing. | | | | responsible for Notaries Public. |
| One misconception about a notary public is that his or | | | | Each notary public shall have a seal of office, which |
| her official signature and/or embossing stamp | | | | shall be affixed to his instruments of publications and |
| automatically makes a document 'true and legal'. | | | | to his protestations. The term of office of a notary |
| Documents certified by notaries public are sealed with | | | | public is four years commencing with the effective |
| the notary's seal and are recorded by the notary | | | | date specified in the notarial commission. The Office |
| public in a register maintained by him/her. | | | | of the Secretary of State performs random |
| The notary public's seal shall either be a seal press or | | | | background investigations on individuals submitting |
| a rubber stamp. These shall be the exclusive | | | | new or renewal notary public applications. The |
| property of the notary public. A notary public's | | | | applicant cannot act as a Notary Public until he |
| signature and seal is required to authenticate the | | | | receives his certificate of appointment from this |
| signatures on many legal documents. The notary | | | | office. An appointed notary public may begin |
| public verifies the person's identity, usually done with | | | | notarizing documents after receipt of a certificate of |
| a driver's license, presses the notary seal on the | | | | appointment from the Secretary of State. Please |
| document and signs it. | | | | Visit for more detailed Information. |
| If you're an inpatient, you may also ask your nurse | | | | |