Why do documents have to be notarized

The notary makes sure that the signers are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly. For a document to be notarized, it must contain the following elements: Text committing the signer in some way An original signature of the signer, not a photocopy if a signature is required. A notarial "certificate", which may appear on the document itself or on an attachment. If the document has already been signed, the notary should ask the person to sign the document again, either above or below the previous signature.

While that's an enormous number of notarizations, some people only notarize a few documents in their lives and are unfamiliar with the purpose Notarization is a system to prevent fraud and notary publics are front line officers in that battle.

When executed, a POA gives someone the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf. Many private wealth managers require a POA to manage your money. By requiring notarization, a financial institution can be certain their client actually signed the document under their own free will.

And, as a consumer, you are also protected by notarization. Because someone must identify themselves when visiting a notary, it is an important safeguard to ensure someone cannot fraudulently grant power of attorney on your behalf. This same system ensures someone cannot purchase a home in your name or execute a will in your name A remote notarization with Notarize is a stronger form of notarization that improves upon each of the three principles listed above.

In an in-person notarization, a notary visually inspects a driver's license to confirm identity. They can rely only on their own discerning eye. They must also present a valid photo ID that must pass a forensic analysis. He has worked more than 13 years in both public and private accounting jobs and more than four years licensed as an insurance producer. His background in tax accounting has served as a solid base supporting his current book of business.

Notarized documents are documents that have been certified by a notary public to verify their authenticity. Notarization includes the witness and record of the signing of documents to make sure the process is not fraudulent, and to assure that the documents can be trusted by the authorities who requested them. Important documents often need to be notarized, but how can you accomplish this?

While it may sound intimidating, the process is often as easy as a trip to your local bank, credit union, or shipping center. Notarized documents have been signed in front of a notary public and vetted for authenticity. Documents usually require notarization if they handle important financial or legal matters that require a great deal of trust in all parties named in the document. Other types of documents that may need a notary are those that have the potential for fraud.

For example, if you are designating a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, you're signing over a large amount of money, and you won't be around to vouch for the transaction.

Transfers of title for cars or real estate, powers of attorney, wills and trusts , advanced directives and other healthcare-related forms, and handgun permits, are just a few examples of the many types of documents that often require notarization.

Getting a notarized document means that a signature is legitimate—and nothing more. Notaries are not required or expected to read through the material, evaluate it for you, or provide legal advice.

Nor will your notary alert you to any problems you may be signing up for. All they do is verify who signed a document and when. If a valid signature is all it takes to execute an agreement, a properly signed and notarized document may do the trick. Ask a local attorney for guidance on your particular situation and local laws. A notary's job is to ensure that all signatures on a document are legitimate. This happens in a series of careful checks:. A notary will refuse to validate a signature if there are any potential problems with the signer.

To get a document notarized, you'll need to visit a notary public, prove your identity, and sign the document. To make sure you have everything in order, read through the following steps before starting the process. But if one party of the contract wants to head to court, notarization helps.

Notary publics identify the person who is signing the document and attest to the person's signature. A notarized document proves that a person who objects to the agreement was someone who signed it. This is particular for written contracts, so a notarized document can be relevant in documents that have to be written. Having a notarized document is not necessary, but it is helpful if your contract is ever taken to court.

Witnesses aren't generally required for a contract to be enforceable in a court of law. Each state, though, is different in their contract requirements, and some states may want a third party to witness a contract signing for it to be valid in their courts. For instance, most states want for there to be at least two witnesses during the signing of a will.