Notary Tips

Facts About Being a Notary

You should never ask a Notary Public to perform an act for a person without them being able to verify that person’s identity. The reason for this is a Notary Public can be found guilty of misconduct if they perform an act without first verifying the identity of the person whose signature they are notarizing. If a notary does not know the person they are performing the act for, then bring some ID. Just remember the Notary Act does limit the acceptable IDs. The reason is that a Notary can be charged with misconduct if he or she performs an act for a person without first verifying their identity through either personal knowledge or evidence of identity.

Notarial Certificate

If you are asked to review a document with a space for a Notary Certificate, make sure that you leave sufficient room for a complete and proper Notary Certificate. Never ask a Notary Public to notarize something that has blanks in the notarial certificate. The Notary must fill in all the applicable spaces on the notary certificate with the information required. Unless the Notary Public is also a licensed attorney, never ask a notary to pick the form of the notarial certificate. But, a non-attorney Notary will be able to offer a selection of notarial certificates, however, is not permitted to choose or recommend which one to use.

Deposition

Court reporters that are also notaries public must positively identify witnesses in a deposition before they are able to swear in the witnesses. So witnesses must bring with them a picture ID. The picture ID has to be:

• A current document that was issued by either a federal, state federal or state-recognized government agency,
• Have the photographic image of the person

Alternatively, the witness can be identified by personal knowledge only if:

• The court reporter-notary personally knows them
• If an impartial credible witness who is known to the notary and the principal swears or affirms that the witness’s identity has been confirmed.

For more details on our services, please do not hesitate to contact us at this number (818) 635-2352, to make an appointment with Today Notary, we are based in the Sherman Oaks, CA area.