Making It More Legal

What Is a Notary Public and When Do You Need It?

A notary public is an official of integrity appointed by the state government to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries are publicly commissioned as “ministerial” officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would otherwise be the case with a “judicial” official. As official representatives of the state, they certify the proper execution of many of the life-changing documents of private citizens — whether those diverse transactions convey real estate, grant powers of attorney, establish a prenuptial agreement, or perform the multitude of other activities that enable our civil society to function.

Reliable Notary Public in Van Nuys CA

What can a notary do for you? If you’re looking for an official witness for a variety of documents that require such a service, you may need a notary. A notary’s duty is to screen the signers of important documents — such as property deeds, wills, and powers of attorney — for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction. Some notarizations also require the Notary to put the signer under an oath, declaring under penalty of perjury that the information contained in a document is true and correct.

There are a number of official documents that require a notarized signature. Only a notary can perform this service. He or she witnesses your signature and verifies that your identity is confirmed and that you were the person who signed the document. One of the most common times individuals encounters notaries is during the closing on a house. Home mortgage closings feature a number of legal documents that must be signed, and those signatures must be witnessed. A notary public can witness and certify the signatures on these important documents.

Impartiality is the foundation of the notary’s public trust. They are duty-bound not to act in situations where they have a personal interest. The public trusts that the notary’s screening tasks have not been corrupted by self-interest. And impartiality dictates that a notary never refuses to serve a person due to race, nationality, religion, politics, sexual orientation, or status as a non-customer.

With that said, documents of great importance and value must be duly notarized, and in Sherman Oaks, CA and the surrounding areas, Today Notary is a trusted notary public. Call me at (818) 635-2352 for inquiries.