Notarization is a process of confirming the authenticity of information. In many circumstances, a signer will simply ask a Notary Public to notarize a document without understanding that there are many different types of notarizations. Learn more about the most common types of notarizations.
Acknowledgments
An acknowledgment is normally required for documents concerning valuable assets, like deeds and mortgages. An acknowledgment confirms the identity of the signer and that the signature was not coerced or forced, but was voluntary. A Notary Public can perform an acknowledgment on documents that are already signed; they are not required to be present during the actual signing. The signer must be present when a document is notarized.
Jurats
A jurat confirms the authenticity and validity of the information in a document. When performing a jurat, the Notary must be present when the signer signs the document. The Notary must also lead the signer through an oath, in which he or she confirms the statements made in the document are true.
Signature Witnessing
When performing signature witnessing, a Notary witnesses an individual sign a document and confirms the signer is who they claim to be. Signature witnessing is similar to acknowledgements, with the difference that the documents must be signed in the Notary’s presence. Signature witnessing differs from a jurat in that an oath is not administered.
Oaths and Affirmations
In some instances, the work of a Notary Public may not even involve any type of document or contract. Much like the oath a Notary Public would lead a client through when conducting a jurat, a Notary can administer an affirmation or oath for a client. An affirmation is a pledge of honor, while an oath is a pledge to a higher being. Both affirmations and oaths are acts indicating truthfulness.
Copy Certification
A copy certification is simply confirmation that a copy of a document is authentic and true to the original. Documents that typically require copy certification include driver’s licenses, vehicle titles, leases, contracts, bills of sale, Social Security cards, medical records and diplomas.
To conduct a copy certification, the document holder must bring the original to a Notary. The Notary will make a copy and notarize the document, confirming its authenticity. Some states do not allow Notaries to perform copy certifications, so it is important to confirm the local guidelines and process when copies of important documents are required.
Understanding the Role of Notary Publics
The work of Notary Publics is varied, but ultimately it all revolves around confirming the truth and authenticity of information. There are different types of notarizations to confirm different types of information, from signatures to the contents of documents to verbal statements and more. If you need help with notary public services, contact us today!