Sunday, November 6, 2022

Why Notarizing Your Documents Is Important

Notarization is sometimes known as "acts of notarization." It involves a three-step process involving vetting, certifying, and record keeping by a public notary. It is the official procedure to prevent fraud and assure the parties that the notarized document is authentic. Notarization is typically required for documents required for banking transactions and judicial documents.

Notary public services perform notarial acts as unbiased witnesses when fulfilling fraud-prevention activities about legal documents. The Notaries Act of 1952 governs the duties of a public notary. Certifying, attestation, or authentication of any document, translation, and verification of legal papers translated from one language to another. He can administer affidavit oaths and serve as an affidavit witness. Notaries can also serve as arbitrators.

Who Has The Authority to Notarize?

A person who has served as a judicial service member or held office under state or central government in a position requiring special law knowledge is also eligible to become a notary public. In addition, a person who has served as a member of the judicial services must have served for at least five years.


What Exactly is A Notary Public?

A notary public, or just "notary," is a trustworthy person who acts as an impartial witness when important documents are signed, such as legal depositions, wills, trusts, affidavits, and powers of attorney. Notaries are public servants who are hired and commissioned by state governments. This puts them in a position of trust and responsibility.


A person must first meet their state's requirements to become a notary. Notaries in California have to:

  • The age of the majority is 18 years.

  • legally residing in the state and the nation

  • Pass the Secretary of State's test and complete the required training

  • Withstand an investigation

  • Purchase a surety bond

  • Purchase mistakes and omissions coverage (optional, but highly recommended)


Pros of Notarizing Documents

Notarizing a document can be beneficial for various reasons, regardless of whether or not the act is mandated by law. The following reasons account for why this system has persisted for centuries:


  1. Preventing Fraud and Forgery -  When putting in place important documents, having a reliable notary who can verify a signer's identity is like having an extra layer of defence in a world where con artists will take advantage of any victim in their path.


  1. Ensure Legal Defence - Having your documents notarized can reduce the likelihood of contract disagreements and legal action.


  1. Elevate The Document's Credibility - Notarizing a document is typically required before it can legally bind. Even though this does not apply to all documents, having a document notarized is still advantageous because having a notary's stamp and signature adds to the document's intrinsic worth and verifies its legitimacy.


  1. Eliminate The Requirement That A Witness Attend Court - According to the rules of evidence, a document that has been notarized is regarded as self-authenticating. This means that it can be used as evidence in a trial without extra proof to show that it is what it claims to be. As a result, a notarization eliminates the requirement that the witness is present, which helps the procedure save a significant amount of time in addition to money.


The Closing Note

To summarize this guide, a notary public can assist you in finalizing and executing unenforceable documents. When you employ a Notary Public, you gain a third-party witness to your document's signing. Using a notary public guarantees that future adjustments be made lawfully and without errors. Notary Public services also help to save considerable time and money. When discussing notaries, an apostille is often stated soon after. An apostille certifies a document as legal and binding outside the country. Therefore, Apostille in London is a well-known procedure for notarizing papers.