Notary 101 -- What is a Notary?

I often get asked questions on what exactly does it mean to be a notary so I’ve dedicated this short blog post to explain.

A notary public is an official appointed by the Secretary of State to serve the public as an impartial witness. The purpose is to deter fraud and fraudulent acts when signing important documents. A notary also identifies and attests that the person who is signing the document is in fact, the right person (you are who you say you are). A notary ensures that the signer is not signing under force, stress or duress and is aware of the contents of the document they are signing. A notary can also administer oaths. In my notary career, I have had the privilege of signing many exciting, life-changing documents including administering oaths to new lawyers beginning their law career. As a notary, it is always nice to be a part of a special moment or memory!