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Notary Public

What is a Notary Public?

A notary public is a public servants appointed by state government whose duties include witnessing an individual signing important documents (e.g. Power of Attorney, Trust Agreements, Wills, etc.) and administering oaths.  A Notary Public is an impartial witness and identifies the signers to deter fraud and verify the individual enters the agreement knowingly and willingly.

What is a Notarization?

A Notarization means that the signer executed their signature personally in the presence of the Notary Public and, in some instances that they vouch under oath or affirmation that the contents of the document are true to the best of their knowledge. The identification of the individual is authenticated prior to notarization.

Asking a notary to notarize a document that they did not witness the signing of or to notarize a document prior to the client signing is asking the notary to violate the law and is never acceptable under any circumstances.

Private investigators use notaries to notarize legal documents.

Notary Public Reference Websites
Following are reference websites that contain a variety of information on notary publics, including links to state notary public websites, notary public training, procedures for how to become a notary public, and more.
Notary Public.com	The National Registry of Notaries - The National Registry of Notaries. Find a Notary Public, Become a Notary Public, Notary Public Classes, Notary Public Stamps, Notary Public Forums
National Notary Association	The Professional Notary Resource 2008The National Notary Association (NNA) is committed to the education and support of US Notaries as they carry out their vital role in protecting the public
Private Investigators use investigation software like US Search, and Inteliusto find people, conduct online background investigations, search public records, find missing persons, and more.  Check out our Private Investigator Software and start conducting your own investigations today.
Notary Public Directory	Nationwide directory for notary public, notary, notary classes, national notary, notary supplies, notary stamps, mobile notary, notary services.

State Notary Public Websites
The following websites contain Notary Public information for each state.  Most state notary public websites contain information on how to become a notary public in that state.  Some websites even have online notary public applications, or application download forms for you to fill out and mail in.  You may also find information on fees, contact information, and regulations governing notary public activity.
Alabama	Alabama Notary Public information
Alaska	Alaska Notary Public information
Arizona	Arizona Notary Public information
Arkansas	Arkansas Notary Public information
California	California Notary Public information
Colorado	Colorado Notary Public information
Connecticut	Connecticut Notary Public information
Delaware	Delaware Notary Public information
Florida	Florida Notary Public information - Learn what steps to take to become a Notary Public in Florida.
Georgia	Georgia Notary Public information
Hawaii	Hawaii Notary Public information
Idaho	Idaho Notary Public information
Illinois	Illinois Notary Public information
Indiana	Indiana Notary Public information.  How to become a notary in Indiana.
Iowa	Iowa Notary Public information
Kansas	Kansas Notary Public information
Kentucky	Kentucky Notary Public information
Louisiana	Louisiana Notary Public information
Maine Notary Public	Maine Notary Public information.  Maine Notaries, like those in Florida and South Carolina, can officiate at weddings. But there is no reciprocity with other states -- this means that out-of-state Notaries or Justices of the Peace cannot obtain permission to officiate at marriages in Maine. Only Maine adult residents can become and function as Maine Notaries Public.
Maryland	Maryland Notary Public information
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Notary Public information
Michigan	Michigan Notary Public information
Minnesota	Minnesota Notary Public information
Mississippi	Mississippi Notary Public information
Missouri	Missouri Notary Public information
Montana	Montana Notary Public information
Nebraska	Nebraska Notary Public information
Nevada	Nevada Notary Public information
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Notary Public information
New Jersey	New Jersey Notary Public information
New Mexico	New Mexico Notary Public information
New York	New York Notary Public information
North Carolina	North Carolina Notary Public information
North Dakota	North Dakota Notary Public information
Ohio	Ohio Notary Public information
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Notary Public information
Oregon	Oregon Notary Public information
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Notary Public information
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Notary Public information
South Carolina	South Carolina Notary Public information
South Dakota	South Dakota Notary Public information
Tennessee	Tennessee Notary Public information
Texas	Texas Notary Public information
Utah	Utah Notary Public information
Vermont	The Vermont Secretary of State's Online Notary Resource Center. This Reference Center provides links to information of interest to Vermont Notaries Public.
Virginia	Virginia Notary Public information
Washington	Washington Notary Public information
West Virginia	West Virginia Notary Public information
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Notary Public information
Wyoming	Wyoming Notary Public information
Requirements to Become a Notary
The requirements to become a notary vary between each state.  Following are some of the more common requirements to become a notary.  Please check the state notary public website listed above for specific state requirements: To become a notary, you must be a resident in the state You must be at least 18 years of age to become a notary The applicant must sign a written statement under oath as to whether he/she has ever been convicted of a crime that has not been annulled by a court, other than minor traffic violations. An application must be completed A fee is typically required along with the notary application

Miscellaneous Notary Terms and Definitions

• Affidavit - is a written statement sworn to before an officer authorized to administer an oath. A person "makes" an affidavit by going before a notary or other officer and swearing to the contents of a written document. A notary "takes" an affidavit by administering an oath and completing the certificate.
• Affiant - is the person making a statement under oath.
• Acknowledged - the signer confirmed or admitted to the notary to having signed a document.
• Before me - that the act was conducted in the presence of the notary.
• Credible witness - is a third person who personally knows the document signer and verifies the signer’s identity.
• Execute - making or completing a signature
• Instrument - "document"
• Jurat - is the notary’s certificate on an affidavit
• Personal knowledge - having an acquaintance, derived from association with the individual, which establishes the individual’s identity with at least a reasonable certainty.
• Satisfactory evidence - is valid ID card or papers, or use of a credible witness.
• Subscribed - means "signature" or "signed."

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