WHAT IS A NOTARY PUBLIC?
WHAT IS A NOTARY PUBLIC?
A notary public is a public officer constituted and commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness for matters usually concerned with general financial transactions, estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and much more.
WHAT DOES A NOTARY PUBLIC DO?
A notary public performs official acts known as “notarization.” These acts are typically used for fraud deterring acts related to the importance of signing documents.
Their duty is to screen the individual or signer for their true identity. By doing this, they must always ask for a VALID and NON-EXPIRED PHOTO IDENTIFICATION to validate the person’s identity.
DO I HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO GET A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED?
Yes. The “signing individual” must be present and appear before the notary public. You can check with your States Secretary of State if electronic acts are allowed in your State.
CAN SOMEONE ELSE GET A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED FOR ME?
No. The purpose of getting any document notarized is to ensure and validate the signer’s true identity.
CAN I SIGN BEFORE COMING TO THE NOTARY?
No. The Document will be deemed, “invalid.” A document that requires notarization should never be signed prematurely and always in front of a notary public.
HOW LONG ARE NOTARY PUBLICS COMMISSIONED FOR?
Notary Public is commissioned between four to five years. This timeframe varies from state to state. The term of commission is four years.
Example: In the State of New York, the term you are commissioned for is four years. Every person who is appointed must be a citizen or permanent resident of the US and must be a resident of having a place of business in New York State.
DOES NOTARY EVER EXPIRE?
The term of commission is four years. Every person appointed as a notary public must, at the time of his or her appointment, be a citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States and either a resident of New York or have an office or place of business in New York State.
WHO IS EXEMPT FROM TAKING THE NOTARY PUBLIC EXAMINATION?
An individual who is currently a member of the New York State Bar or a court clerk of the Unified Court System. For example, like a Licensed Attorney.
DOES A NOTARY INK STAMP AND SEAL SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE?
Yes. An Ink Notary Stamp and Seal serve the same purpose.
CAN A PERSON CONVICTED OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE BECOME A NOTARY PUBLIC?
A person convicted of a felony cannot be appointed and generally, misdemeanors are considered barring as well.
CAN I GET A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED ELECTRONICALLY?
No. During the global pandemic and state of emergency electronic notarizations were accepted in New York State. In accordance with the Executive Order: Electronic Notarization, expired on June 24, 2021. Notary publics can no longer perform notary services remotely.
HOW CAN I BECOME A NOTARY?
You have to schedule an appointment on the appointment sites and take a proctored exam that will be administered. You will receive a notification in the mail if you passed or failed. If you passed, you have to then submit your application with your passing slip to receive your Notary ID number and commission.
CAN I BE COMMISSIONED IN VARIOUS STATES?
Only the state where you reside in. Unless you own a place of business in another state and have supporting documents to back this up. Each state has its own rules.
