In an effort to reduce fraud, some important documents need to be notarized. Here is everything you need to know about the notary process and when it needs to take place.
WHAT IS A NOTARIZED DOCUMENT?
A notarized document is any document that has been certified by a notary public. This person is there to verify the identities of anyone signing the document, ensures all signers are willing participants (not being forced to sign), watches the signing take place, and then marks the document with a seal to confirm this process.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE NOTARIZED?
Documents that need a witness to sign are usually required to be notarized. This can include wills, leases, power of attorney, vehicle bill of sale, guardianship agreements, and more. If you aren’t sure if something needs to be notarized, run a quick google check to see if it’s a document that needs to be notarized.
WHERE CAN I FIND A NOTARY?
There are several options available when it comes to locating a notary. A great place to start is your local financial intuition, as many banks and credit unions have notary publics in house. If you already hold an account there, you have access to these services for free.
When using a notary public, make sure you bring a form of government issued photo identification with you, such as a driver’s license or passport. The notary must watch everyone sign the document, so don’t sign anything beforehand as that may void t
