A notary public is an official of integrity that is tasked with verifying the authenticity of your most important transactions. Their consent is often the final stem in establishing a power of attorney (POA), closing on a home, or even opening a retirement account. Each notary public is appointed by state and are publicly commissioned as “ministerial” officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would otherwise be the case with a “judicial” official.

A notary’s duty is to screen the signers of important documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction. Some notarizations also require the notary to put the signer under an oath, declaring under penalty of perjury that the information contained in the document is true and correct, property deeds, wills, and powers of attorney (POA) are all examples of documents that commonly require a notary. A notary is duty-bound not to act in situations in which they have a vested interest. The public trusts that the notary’s screening tasks have not been corrupted by self-interest and impartiality dictates that a notary never refuses to serve a person due to race, nationality, religion, politics, sexual orientation, or status as a non-customer.