A Notary Public is a trustworthy representative of the state government appointed by the secretary of state to assist the public in a number of formal fraud-deterrent activities relating to the signing of significant documents. Notarizations, also known as notarial acts, are these official actions. Publicly appointed “ministerial” officials, such as notaries, are required to adhere to established rules without using a great deal of personal judgment, as would be the case with a “judicial” official.
What is a Notary’s role?
A Notary’s responsibility is to verify the identity of signers of crucial papers, ensure that they are free from coercion or intimidation and that they are informed of the transaction’s terms before they agree to sign. In some notarizations, the Notary must also administer an oath, under penalty of perjury, declaring that the information in the document is genuine and correct. Powers of attorney, wills, and property deeds are a few examples of papers that frequently need a notary. The basis for the public’s faith in notaries is impartiality. They have a duty to refrain from acting in circumstances where they have a personal stake. The general public has faith that the Notary’s screening responsibilities are free from bias. A Notary must always be impartial, which forbids turning away a client because of that person’s race, nationality, religion, politics, sexual orientation, or status as a non-client. As official representatives of the state, Notaries Public certify the proper execution of may of the life-changing documents of private citizens — whether those diverse transactions convey real estate, grant powers of attorney, establish a prenuptial agreement, or perform the multitude of other activities that enable our civil society to function.
Notary’s Are Not Obligated
A U.S. Notary Public is not an attorney, judge, or other high-ranking authority, unlike Notaries in other nations. Immigrants who approach Notaries in this country may find it puzzling because a U.S. Notary is different from a Notario Publico. To properly serve immigrants and avoid notario problems, notaries in the United States should be extremely explicit about what they can and cannot do.