A notary public is an official who helps prevent fraud by verifying identities and witnessing signatures on important documents. Notaries are not lawyers, and they do not check whether a document is legally sound.
What a notary does
- Verifies your identity using an approved ID.
- Confirms you are signing willingly and understand what you are signing.
- Witnesses your signature or takes your acknowledgment.
- Administers oaths and affirmations for sworn statements.
- Records the act in a journal in many states and stamps the document.
What a notary cannot do
A notary cannot give legal advice, choose which document you need or prepare legal documents for you unless they are also licensed to do so. Notaries also cannot notarize a document in which they have a personal interest. In many Spanish-speaking communities, "notario" means a lawyer abroad, so be careful not to rely on U.S. notaries for legal help.
How to get a document notarized
- Do not sign in advance. Sign only in front of the notary.
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Bring the complete document, with no blank spaces to be filled in later.
- Bring any witnesses the document requires.
- Expect a small fee set by state law.
Remote and online notarization
Many states now allow remote online notarization using audio and video technology under specific rules. Whether another state or agency accepts it can vary, so check with the recipient.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a notary?
Banks, shipping stores, libraries, courthouses and mobile notary services often offer notarization.
Does notarization make a document valid?
No. It only verifies identity and signing, not the content or legality of the document.