A Notary Public is an official appointed by a state government to serve the public as an impartial witness in administering oaths and performing other official acts (called notarial acts or notarizations) when important documents are signed. The duties and responsibilities of Notaries are expressly dictated by state law.
Notaries Public oversee the proper execution of many life-changing documents—whether those documents help businesses to operate, convey real property, grant powers of attorney, establish estate plans, finalize adoptions, or affect a multitude of other matters that enable our society to function.
Notary Public Responsibilities
Notaries help deter fraud, confirm that signers of documents understand the document they're signing, and verify that each signer is signing willingly and freely.
The primary responsibilities of Notaries are to 1) Verify a document signer is who they claim to be; 2) Confirm the document signer’s mental competence and willingness to sign; 3) Administer oaths and affirmations; and 4) Oversee or witness the signing of documents.
Identifying the Signer
Generally, a Notary will ask a document signer for a current form of identification that has a photo, physical description, and signature. Acceptable IDs usually include a driver's license or passport.
Confirming Willingness and Awareness
Notaries confirm both the signer's willingness to sign the document and their mental competence. On occasion, Notaries encounter individuals who are being forced to sign a document or whose mental condition impairs their decision-making abilities. By confirming both, Notaries establish confidence in the integrity of the signed documents and protect the rights of all parties involved.
Administering Oaths and Affirmations
Notaries may be required to administer an oath or affirmation—to an elected official, a witness in a trial, or a document signer—requiring the individual to declare under penalty of perjury that a statement or information in a document is true. An oath invokes a higher power, while an affirmation, its legal equivalent, is made on one’s personal honor when a person chooses not to invoke a supreme being.
Overseeing the Signing of Documents
Notaries ensure the appropriate parties sign, so the documents have their intended legal effect. In most cases, Notaries witness the signing in their presence. When the law allows a party to sign a document before going to a Notary, the Notary makes the signer acknowledge the signature. In all cases, the Notary’s primary duty is to ensure that the right individual—not an impostor—is the one who signed.
Different Types of Notaries
Every Notary holds a traditional Notary commission or appointment but may perform notarial acts in different settings or branch out into specialized services. The different types of Notaries include:
- Employee Notary: Notary who qualifies for a Notary commission in their state and primarily notarizes documents for an employer as one part of their employee-related duties.
- Mobile Notary: Notary who travels to the signer’s location, such as the signer’s home, place of work, or hospital.
- Remote Online Notary: Notary who has met their state’s additional requirements to become authorized to perform remote notarizations.
- Notary Signing Agent: Notary who has been specifically trained and also passed a background screening to perform notarial and document signing services for mortgage finance and refinance loan signings.
While all Notaries share the same core duties, they differ mainly in the types of documents they notarize, the tools they use, and the locations where they perform notarizations.
| Notary Type |
Document Format |
Location |
| Employee Notaries |
Paper, electronic |
In-person, virtual |
| Mobile Notaries |
Paper |
In-person |
| Remote Online Notaries |
Electronic |
Virtual |
| Notary Signing Agents |
Paper, electronic |
In-person |
Notaries may perform in-person electronic notarizations (IPEN). No specialized training in notarial procedures beyond learning the technology system or platform used to perform these notarizations is needed.
Where Notaries Work
Notaries have two workplace options. They may work for a private or public employer who requires them to get a Notary commission.
The other option is self-employment. In the 2023 Notary Survey, the National Notary Association found that 51.1% of respondents were self-employed Mobile Notaries or Notary Signing Agents.
Notary Income
Most states set the maximum fees Notaries may charge for notarial acts. However, Notaries may also charge for traveling to perform notarizations or providing extra services, such as copying documents or couriering signed documents. Specializing in certain services like hospital notarizations or estate planning documents, or becoming an NNA Certified Notary Signing Agent, may also help increase earnings.
Becoming a Notary Public
A Notary commission may be obtained in any state by meeting that state’s eligibility requirements and completing its commissioning process. While the process varies by jurisdiction, it generally involves submitting an application, paying the required fee, completing any mandated training or examination, filing a bond and oath of office, and getting the necessary Notary supplies.
Now knowing what a Notary is and what they do, learn the benefits of being a Notary.
Last updated: Jan 13, 2026