Your Notary Guide

 A Jurat is a distinct notarial act in which a notary public certifies that an individual has sworn or affirmed the truthfulness of a document’s contents. 

 An acknowledgment is a notarial act in which a notary public verifies that the signer personally appeared, was properly identified, and willingly signed the document of their own accord. 

  A Loan Signing Agent (LSA) is a notary public with specialized training and certification to notarize loan documents. Their primary responsibility is to oversee the signing process for mortgage loan paperwork, ensuring all required signatures, initials, and dates are correctly placed and properly notarized. LSAs play a vital role in real estate transactions, particularly in the loan closing process. 

 Notarization does not confirm the accuracy or legality of a document’s content. The signer is solely responsible for its information. The Notary Public’s role is to verify the signer’s identity, typically by checking a valid government-issued ID that includes a photo, physical description, and signature. 

NO, a Notary Public cannot give legal advice unless they are also a licensed attorney. Notaries are limited to performing specific duties related to the notarization of documents, such as verifying identities, witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and ensuring the proper execution of documents. Providing legal advice falls outside the scope of their authorized duties. 

• All signer(s) must be present at the time of the appointment
• All signer(s) must provide an original up to date photo I.D.(no copies or expired I.D.’s)
• The signer(s) must be of sound mind, alert, and mentally competent
• The signer must want to sign the document being notarized
• The document or form requiring notarization must be completely filled out. Notaries do not draw up documents or help you with filling out the document.

• The document was incomplete or blank.
• The signer was not physically present during the appointment.
• The signer had been legally declared mentally incapacitated and had not been restored to capacity.
• The signer could not provide valid government-issued identification.
• The signer appeared intoxicated, sedated, or disoriented.
• The Notary had knowledge of, was informed of, or suspected the transaction to be illegal, false, or deceptive.