Looking for a Notary? Here are several resources to connect you with a qualified professional.
There are several requirements that must be met before a Notary Public can legally handle a request for notarization. This short guide will help you prepare for a smooth notarization.
A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.
The National Notary Association introduced the first-ever comprehensive and detailed code of ethical and professional conduct for America’s Notaries: The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility. The Code addresses common problems, issues and questions encountered by today’s Notaries by prescribing principles, standards and rules and applying them in helpful specific examples.
In Hispanic countries, Notarios Publicos are highly trained legal professionals akin to attorneys who provide legal advice and draft legal documents.In the United States, however, Notaries are state-commissioned officials with narrow witnessing duties and much less discretion. Many unethical individuals exploit the confusion over these different roles to take advantage of unsuspecting immigrants.
If you are looking for state-specific information about Notaries and notarization, start here.