By law, a notary is allowed to take acknowledgements, administer oaths and affirmations, perform jurats, take depositions, and certify copies of power of attorney.
The primary reason is to prevent fraud. A notary serves as an impartial witness to ensure the identify of a person who is required to sign a document.
No. A notary is not allowed to assist in drafting documents aside from making sure the documents are signed and dated in the proper place and by the right person.
The process usually takes about five minutes for a single document. In addition to providing a proper ID, customers need to sign the notary’s public record book and provide a thumbprint.
Yes. If a notary can’t properly identify a client or be certain the client knows what they are signing, they can refuse to notarize a document. A notary can be held legally responsible if a document they notarize turns out to be fraudulent.
