As business professionals, you’ve probably heard of notary public but may not fully understand how it works or why it’s important. A notary public is a public official appointed by a state government to witness the signing of important documents and certify their authenticity.
The notary’s signature and seal are used to make sure the document is legally binding. A notary public is responsible for verifying the identity of the person signing the document, as well as ensuring there was no deception or fraud involved in the signing process.
One of the most common uses of a notary public is to witness the signing of contracts, loan documents, real estate conveyances, and trust documents. A notary’s signature is also commonly used to serve as an identifying witness or a verifying witness for important documents such as affidavits, legal notices, or to take an acknowledgement of a document such as a deed.
Advantages of Notarization
Having a document notarized provides several potential benefits. First, it helps to create an indisputable record of a document. The notary’s signature, stamp, and seal verifies the identity of the signer, the date the document was signed, and that all parties had the capacity and consent to sign the document.
Notarizing a document may also protect you from potential liability in the future. Notarizing a contract makes it difficult for either party to later refute the claim that they signed it and agreed to its terms.
Conclusion
Notarizing a document binds all parties to the agreement described in the document. Having your documents notarized is essential for protecting yourself in business transactions. Make sure you understand the importance of notarization the next time you are signing any important documents.