What Does it Mean to Have a Document Notarized With a Notary Public?

Americans collectively notarize 1.25 billion documents each year, and each transaction is a milestone moment for someone.

A couple in Montana may want to buy a new home in Texas that’s closer to their grandkids. A son in South Carolina might require power of attorney to take care of an ailing parent. Dozens of life-changing events hinge on access to - and approval by - a notary public.

So what does it mean to have a document notarized? It’s more than just a fancy rubber stamp.

Why is it Important to Notarize a Document?

It’s essential that everyone trusts the authenticity of legal documents. When purchasing a home or establishing power of attorney, clarity and certainty are not things you can figure out later.

A notary public is a public official appointed by a state government to help deter fraud. Notary publics witness the signing of important documents and verify the identity of the signer(s), their willingness to sign the documents, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction.

Institutions rely upon notaries so they may have full faith in important documents. After witnessing a signing, a notary public applies their own details, such as their signature, seal, and notary commission details. When you see a notary's seal on a document, it means a notary public verified that the transaction authentic and properly executed.

Having a document notarized is the same as swearing under oath in a court of law—you are saying that the facts contained in the document are true.

Modernizing the Notary Process

Despite their importance, getting documents notarized is incredibly frustrating. For over 100 years, customers needed to find, schedule, and visit a notary public in-person so that your signature could be verified.

Notarize eliminates the hassle tied to in-person notarizations by allowing you to connect with a notary public instantly online. Notarize online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and offers convenience through a more verifiable form of legal notarization. Our app holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating in the iOS App Store with over 2,000 reviews, and a 9.4 out of 10 rating on Trustpilot with over 450 reviews.

On average, our entire process takes less than five minutes. You might wait longer than that just to mail your paper documents at the post office, and that’s before the 3-5 business days the document will spend in transit.

Plus, our platform is also paperless, which means you’re doing your part to limit the 2.2 billion sheets of paper used by the mortgage sector annually.

How Does Notarize Work?

We work with your schedule, not the other way around. To get your document notarized by a notary public, simply download the Notarize app on the App Store, Google Play Store, or on the web and follow these steps:

1. Upload any document, but do not sign it before uploading it. You must sign before the notary public.
2. Fill out the document using Notarize’s digital tools.
3. Validate your identity.
4. When ready, you’ll be prompted to connect in a live video call with a commissioned electronic notary public. You have access to a notary 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
5. Sign using your computer, iPhone, or Android device as the notary public watches over live video.
6. Wait as the notary public notarizes your document online. The average wait time is about 60 seconds.
7. You’re done! Download your notarized PDF.

Ready to get your documents notarized? Visit Notarize to get started.