Why Get a Document Notarized?

In general, when a document has been notarized, the receiving agency can be relatively certain that the document signer is who they say they are because the Notary required personal appearance and positively identified the signer. This pertains to an acknowledgment notarization. In the case of a Jurat, the receiving agency of the notarized documents can be certain of the signer’s identity and that the signer is swearing to the truthfulness of the document because the Notary, who is a public official serving as an impartial witness, properly identified the signer and administered an oath to the signer. 

 You have chosen to become part of a “growing profession of more than 292,000 public officials who perform invaluable services to the legal, business, financial, and real estate communities.” In California, a Notary Public is a public official commissioned by the Secretary of State, after a determination of the applicant’s level of “honesty, credibility, truthfulness, and integrity to fulfill the responsibilities of the position” (GC 8201.1), to serve the public as an impartial witness. As a Notary, you will witness the signing of important documents, authenticate signatures, positively identify signers, and administer oaths to compel truthfulness. The most common duties of a Notary Public include completing notarizations known as acknowledgments and Jurats. A Notary Public must be impartial, which means they must not have a financial or beneficial interest in the document they are notarizing. 

A Notary Public is commissioned by the Secretary of State to discharge certain duties. These duties include what are commonly known as notarizations, and each notarization has corresponding notarial wording, which will appear on the document to be notarized or on a notarial loose certificate. Each notarization has a different intention and result. There are 4 types of notarial wording: Acknowledgment, Jurat, Proof of Execution by Subscribing Witness, and Certifying Copies. These notarizations will be discussedfurther. A notarized document does not necessarily make a document true, correct or legal. According to the Official Notary Public Handbook, a Notary is not responsible for the contents on the document. The Notary’s fundamental responsibility is certifying the information on the notarial wording.