Notarization is the result of a notary public performing ‘notarial acts’. Notarial acts consist of a variety of official, fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. A notary public’s main function is to authenticate documents by verifying the identity, willingness, and awareness of the signers. The service is completed by adding a certificate with a notarial seal.
A notary public may perform other official acts depending on the jurisdiction, such as administering oaths, taking affidavits, protesting notes, and acting as a loan-signing agent. The purpose of a notary public is to help prevent fraud and ensure the validity and integrity of legal documents and transactions.
Specifically, what can a notary do?