Notary Public Handbook A Handbook For Virginia Notaries Public

INTRODUCTION - This handbook is intended as a general guide and is designed to assist non-attorney notaries with the general requirements, duties, powers, limitations, liabilities, and legal significance of their actions as a notary public. Legal counsel should be consulted whenever specific problems or questions arise concerning any aspect of the office of notary public. THE NOTARY?S FUNCTION - A notary public is a public official whose powers and duties are defined by statute. A notary acts as an official, unbiased witness to the identity and signature of the person who comes before the notary for a specific purpose. The person may be taking an oath, giving oral or written testimony, or signing or acknowledging his or her signature on a legal document. In each case, the notary attests that certain formalities have been observed. The key function is to be certain that the person appearing before the notary is who that person claims to be.

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Notaries Public have duties and responsibilities that confer upon them the trust and faith of the public. Notaries Public are authorized to perform certain official duties that are critical to those who need them. Because the work of Notaries Public is so important, please make sure you take the time to review this guide carefully. It is critical for you to understand the obligations of being a Notary Public and for you to perform those duties in a manner that merits the trust, confidence and respect appropriate to the office.

Historically, Notaries Public predate the Roman empire; their development coincides with that of written and recorded communication. As the ability to read and write was rare, the earliest Notaries Public served primarily as scriveners to assist the illiterate. The decline of the Roman empire saw a corresponding reduction in the volume and importance of written communication. It wasn't until the dawning of the Renaissance that Notaries Public were once again called upon to perform important societal functions. Over the centuries, many a great author, poet and historian supplemented their incomes with fees collected from the provision of literacy services. American pioneer history is replete with examples of notarial assistance. Among them: the processing of land or mining claims, the authentication of public or private documents, and the reading and writing of general correspondence.

Everybody knows what a notary public does, right? Actually, there is much misunderstanding and confusion about what the proper role and duty of a notary is. A notary public does not "legalize" documents, or verify the accuracy or truthfulness of the content or statements made in a document, and yet the role that a notary plays in ascertaining the identity of the person who signs a document, placing that person under oath, if required, and determining the signer's intent and willingness to consent to the transaction is vital in modern society. A notary public is a public official commissioned by the Secretary of State to administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgments, witness signatures, and perform other duties as permitted by state law. A notary should be familiar with the Idaho notary laws and to follow the standards of reasonable care for performing a notarial act.

This handbook has been prepared by the office of the Secretary of State for current and prospective notaries public in the state of Colorado. As a notary public, you hold an important position; therefore, it is vital that you understand the notary duties and responsibilities with which you have been charged. The purpose of this handbook is to help familiarize you with Colorado Notary Law so that you can perform your duties correctly. The Handbook is updated to include changes in the law that will be made effective July 1, 2018, due to the adoption of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA). Notaries public are authorized to perform certain official duties that are critical to those who need them. By acting as an agent of the state by notarizing documents, you help to prevent fraud and forgery. Because the work of notaries public is so important, please make sure you take the time to review this guide carefully.