What are the Most Popular Types of Notaries?
There are three stages involved in the authentication of an official document to make it legally binding in a court of law. After both parties sign the official agreement or document, they need to take it to a notary signing agent to get the official stamp of notarization.
The notary signing agent first vets the document by checking its authenticity of the document. This is normally done by checking if all the information provided by them for their identification and registration is accurate. The second step, after the notary signing agent has found that all the information provided is true and accurate, is to certify it. This is where they put the stamp of approval. The third and final stage of the process is to keep a record. Unless there’s a registered record of the notarization process, it does not get finalized and cannot be considered an official and legally binding document.
So what is a notary signing agent?
A notary, notary public, or a notary signing agent is a representative of the state appointed to oversee and authenticate the signing of all official documents. They are also legally bound professionals who have to follow the strict letter of law based on the state or the country they are residing in. They are required to keep records of each document they oversee in order to keep a statewide record of all officiated terms and documents.
Even though we all may be familiar with what a notary is and their basic responsibilities, they are actually called upon to mark and authenticate different types of notarizations. Before, finding a notary signing agent, booking an appointment and getting your document notarized used to be the kind of process that took up hours, if not the entire day.
Now, there are services that you can find by simple searching terms like ‘mobile notary near me on your phone. The entire process gets simplified and you do not have to go out of your way to get the job done. The notary signing agent will come to you while you do your signing, verify all the information, notarize it and add it to their records in no extra time.
People find it a lot easier to get their official documents in order and on time now that they can find a notary signing agent at their convenience, but what they do not realize is the different types of services that a notary agent provides.
Types and categories of notarizations
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments are performed by notary signing agents as a means of confirmation that the parties involved in the signing of the document were not forced or coerced into signing, and that their signature has not been forged. There is no need for the notary to be present during the signing process of the official document, but the signer needs to be present when the notary is authenticating and officiating the document.
Sworn Statements
Not all notarized documents or statements have to be written statements. Sometimes notary signing agents are called upon to authorize oaths or sworn statements taken between two parties. The notary is responsible for administering the sworn statement to the parties and he is responsible for keeping an official record of the oath. Again, paperwork is not a necessary requirement for the oath.
Jurats
There are many points of confusion between a jurat and an acknowledgment. They are often mistaken for one ther and the terms are used interchangeably, but there are noticeable points of difference between the two.
What are the similarities between a jurat and an acknowledgment?
- The signer of the document needs to be present in front of the notary signing agent for both the jurat and the acknowledgment.
- The notary agent is not required to be present for the actual signing process in both the cases.
- A jurat form often gets mistaken for a notary form, and many states just use an acknowledgment instead of a jurat when asked to present one.
What are the differences between a jurat and an acknowledgment?
- To authenticate the document with a jurat, the signer is required to sign the document along with the notary, unlike an acknowledgment where the notary signing agent is the only one who does the signing.
- The signer is also required to say an oath for a jurat, which is something that is not needed for an acknowledgment.
- The notary agent goes through the papers provided to him and asks the signer questions about the document to check and see if the signer is aware of the document he is signing.
Getting a document notarized as a jurat is a lot more complicated and requires more from the signer than an acknowledgment. The level of authenticity of the document and the assurity that the document and signing process is true to its nature is also a lot more guaranteed than it is with an acknowledgment.
Signature Witnesses
A signature witness is a pretty self-explanatory term. The notary signing agent is required to be present while the signing process is taking place with the signer as a witness and proof of validation of the document. It is like jurats, but there is no need for the signer to take an oath or answer any questions in order for the document to become an official, legally-binding document.
Copy Certifications
Copy certifications are probably the most widely used services of a notary signing agent today. These are ideal for verifying the authenticity of the copy when compared to the original. There is no need for a signer or co-signer to be present, all that is required for the notary signing agent is the original document from the client. The notary makes a copy and notarizes it to confirm its authentic nature.
Notary signing agents provide a number of different services that all ultimately revolve around the truth and validating it. Most of our official documents are required to be notarized today to make them legally binding and authentic, which is why a mobile notary service near you can make your life a lot more convenient.
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