| What a notary public does is witness the signing of | | | | property of the notary public. A notary public's |
| the documents and ask each party for a sworn oath | | | | signature and seal is required to authenticate the |
| of authenticity. A notary (or a notary public) is a | | | | signatures on many legal documents. The notary |
| person legally authorized by a state to administer | | | | public verifies the person's identity, usually done with |
| oaths, take acknowledgments & certify documents. | | | | a driver's license, presses the notary seal on the |
| A notary public shall exercise no power or jurisdiction | | | | document and signs it. |
| in criminal cases. | | | | If you're an inpatient, you may also ask your nurse |
| A notary public must ensure that the person signing a | | | | or unit clerk to arrange for the services of a notary |
| document to be notarized is who s/he says s/he is. | | | | public without charge. Additionally, mail-box shops, |
| Because identities are critical, a notary public may also | | | | copy services, and banks often provide Notary |
| spend some time verifying the names of the parties | | | | services to the public. |
| involved in the signing. | | | | Authentication of a Notary Public's signature is often |
| One misconception about a notary public is that his or | | | | required when foreign and other jurisdictions are |
| her official signature and/or embossing stamp | | | | involved. The public may access this record and |
| automatically makes a document 'true and legal'. | | | | verify the "official" signature of the notary at the |
| Documents certified by notaries public are sealed with | | | | county clerk's office. If not, then a sample of the |
| the notary's seal and are recorded by the notary | | | | Notary's signature and seal must first be |
| public in a register maintained by him/her. | | | | authenticated by the appropriate provincial authority |
| The notary public's seal shall either be a seal press or | | | | responsible for Notaries Public. |
| a rubber stamp. These shall be the exclusive | | | | |