"Excuse me, Are You a Notary?" i-NotaryPublic.com Outlines Traditional Notary Public Services

According to i-NotaryPublic.com, a notary public is a public servant appointed by a state official. The general focus of his or her job is to witness the signing of documents and administer oaths. They serve to deter fraud, appearing as an impartial witness for legal documents such as affidavits, deeds or powers of attorney. The presence of a notary public helps to screen for imposters and make sure both parties are entering into an agreement knowingly and willingly.

Historically, notary publics date back many centuries to the Roman Empire. Originally, they where chosen by the Pope, who would delegate his powers of appointment to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

i-NotaryPublic.com also explains that certain legal documents require the presence of a notary when they are signed. Other times private companies or individuals may employ the services of a notary in order to strengthen the validity and protect participating parties from fraud.

Some states require that the notary public be present at the time of a document’s signing to be acknowledged as valid, but it is more often the case that the individual must simply appear before the notary and give proof of identity to have a document notarized.

For those seeking to become a notary public, obtaining a license is a fairly simple task. Individuals require little special training or prior knowledge, and are only required to pass a test and undergo some form of background check, although, specific laws governing the appointment of notaries can vary from state to state. For example, some states require that a candidate receive his or her appointment directly from the legislature.
Others may require that a notary be a citizen of the United States before granting a license.

Because of the differing laws governing notary publics, there have been many incidences where individuals claiming to be notaries have taken advantage of this ambiguity, scamming unsuspecting individuals. This is especially common in cases of immigrants seeking citizenship in the U.S. Due to the perceived similarity between a notary public and Notario Publico, a high ranking Latin position that is permitted to draft documents, give legal advice and hold other powers not available to a U.S. notary, individuals may allow a notary to perform tasks he or she is not legally qualified to undertake.

About i-notarypublic.com
Notary Public provides detailed information about how to become a notary public, plus notary public classes, supplies, services locations, and more. For more information go to http://www.i-notarypublic.com and/or visit its sister site at http://www.i-paralegal.com for related information.