The Rules and Laws By Which Notaries Are Regulated

A trained public servant appointed by a state's government to witness the signing of everything from deeds to affidavits to powers of attorney as well as administer oaths, a Notary Public plays a very important role in the establishment and execution of many legal documents; that's why it's important to know How Notaries Are Regulated.

It is the duty of a Notary to verify the identity of an individual who signs a legal document and to ascertain whether or not the signer in doing so willing and of a sound mind, in order to deter fraud. In fact, many legal documents are not even binding without a notary public's signature. Understanding how Notaries are regulated is part of the process of making the informed decision to enter into a legally binding agreement which requires a notary's services.

Irregardless of the state a Notary practices in, they have to complete training and be certified before offering their services. Don't be afraid to ask a notary public how much training he/she has in his/her chosen field; if necessary ask to see the notary's seal of certification.

The powers of a notary public are extensive but by no means all encompassing. A notary public verifies the identification of a document signer by checking his/her driver's license, military ID or passport; in other words, by checking basic documents that feature a photo of and basic identifying information about the signer. A notary should not ask personal questions about the signer, and does not have the power to answer questions on legal matters. And under no circumstances may a notary or a traveling notary public give legal advice or prepare legal documents; unless, of course, he/she also happens to be a licensed attorney. Furthermore, while a public notary is expected to halt the execution of fraudulent or involuntary legal procedures, he/she may not refuse to serve an individual because of his/her gender, nationality, race, religion, lifestyle, etc. And a notary generally has an enforced cap on how much he/she can charge for his/her services; this cap differs slightly from state to state.

Once a person learns all about How Notaries Are Regulated, he/she should know how to report alleged unprofessional or even illegal conduct as committed by a notary. Anyone who feels that he/she has been victimized by a notary's unsound practices should report the notary to a law enforcement agency, as well as to an appropriate notary-regulating state official such as a secretary of state, governor, lieutenant governor or attorney general.

Prior to engaging the services of a notary when signing a legal document, it is important to understand Regulations governing Notaries.

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