A notary public is an official recruited by the state government. Usually, the secretary of the state recruits such officials in order to serve the common public. A notary public acts as an unbiased witness to perform fraud-deterrent acts related to signing important papers. This kind of official acts is called notarization or notarial acts. A notary public has to follow the rules without exercising any personal discretion.
What do they do?
A notary public screens the signers of important papers for their actual identity, their inclination for signing. That should be done without intimidation or duress. The notary has to screen the awareness of the signers of the content of the transaction or documents. In some instances, the notary requires the signer to put under an oath. The oath is meant to declare that the perjury penalty that the information mentioned in the document is correct and true. Wills, property deed and powers of attorney are some examples of papers needing a notary. A notary public doesn’t act in cases they have any personal interests. General public trusts notary. They believe that the screening jobs done by them aren’t corrupted. The professional can’t refuse a person based on his/her nationality, race, political inclination, religion or sexual orientation. A notary public is responsible for certifying the right execution of a number of life-changing papers of their clients.
What are the benefits of notaries and notarizations?
By means of notarization, notaries prevent fraudulent activities. The process establishes the fact that the signers know what document they are signing. They are willingly participating in the concerned transactions.
How do they identify the signer?
Usually, the notary public asks the signer to furnish a current ID containing a recent photograph, signature, and physical description. Such IDs may include a passport or a driver’s licence.
Who can be a notary public?
A notary public should be a qualified lawyer. The person is a member of the third and the oldest branch legal profession. In England and Wales, they are appointed by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The rules affecting notaries are almost the same as the rules that affect solicitors. They are insured as well as have fidelity coverage to protect the public and clients. They keep their money separated from the money of their clients. They are in strict compliance with the practice rules. They abide by the rules related to discipline and conduct. The practicing certificates are renewed every year to obey the rules.
A notary public is meant for authentication and certification of the signer’s signatures. They are authorised to conduct other general legal practices. However, they can’t participate in the conduct of the court proceedings like probate. They can also practice as solicitors. Choose a notary public in your location to notarize important documents like wills, deeds and so on. Usually, they charge reasonably without requiring you to break your bank.