A Notary’s main functions are to administer oaths and affirmations, take affidavits and witness and authenticate the execution of documents, take acknowledgements of deeds and other conveyances and perform certain other official acts depending on the jurisdiction. Any such act is called a notarization.

A Notary uses an embossing seal, what we refer to as a self inking notary seal, to verify his or her presence at the time the documents were signed. No legal training is required to apply for the position of Notary Public. Certain legal documents are required to be 'notarized' in order to be recognized in court, so a Notary spends most of his or her time observing routine signatures. Because identities are critical, a Notary may also spend some time verifying the names of the parties involved in the signing. Generally, all parties provide some form of official identification (driver's license, birth certificate, passport, etc.) in order for the Notary public to feel comfortable about notarizing the signatures.

A Notary can charge a nominal fee for his or her services, but this fee cannot be seen as excessive.

One misconception about a Notary is that his or her official signature and/or embossing stamp automatically make a document 'true and legal'. The truth is, Notaries cannot give legal advice to anyone unless he or she happens to be a licensed attorney. What a Notary does is witness the signing of the documents and asks each party for a sworn oath of authenticity. The document itself could still be declared fraudulent or unenforceable later in court proceedings. A Notary public can only attest to the identities of those signing the documents and their own affirmations of authenticity at the time of notarization.

Most people believe that Notaries simply “notarize signatures.” This greatly oversimplifies a Notary’s duties and responsibilities. In carrying out his or her duties, a Notary not only follows what is dictated in state law but exercises subjective judgment on matters such as the state of mind of the signer, the signer’s comprehension of the transaction, or whether fraud or coercion are present.

Notaries derive their authority from their state governments. They are “appointed” or “commissioned” by an official of their state, generally the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State or Treasurer. Each state has its own unique notary laws and Notaries must follow the laws of their particular state. This means that Notaries in one state may have authority to perform duties that Notaries in another state do not—it depends completely on each state’s Notary laws. There is no corresponding or overriding federal law governing Notaries. That’s why it is important for you to use a professional Notary bonding company like Huckleberry Notary Bonding, Inc. We are licensed to provide the notary bond, notary seal and notary education.

A Notary’s authorized duties vary by state but can include:

• Administer oaths and affirmations;
• Take and certify the acknowledgment of a document;
• Take and certify affidavits;
• Take and certify depositions;
• Issue protests of notes and bills;
• Witness the opening of safe deposit boxes and certify a list of contents;
• Issue subpoenas;
• Perform civil marriage ceremonies

The process of becoming a Notary is quite simple. Anyone over the age of 18 and a resident of the state can apply. A simple application and a required online notary course are required. But don’t worry, our online course does not give you a pass or fail grade. It’s merely an informational course. To become a Notary, follow these simple steps and keep in mind that all of our applications include a notary bond, self-inking notary seal, notary certificate suitable for framing, and record keeping journal. We provide you with everything you need to get started notarizing with confidence.

• Complete the online application or print out the application and complete it by hand from www.huckleberrynotary.com
• Take the online educational course at www.huckleberrynotary.com
• Mail in your signed application and course completion certificate.
• That’s it!

If you want more information, call us today at 1-800-422-1555 or visit http://www.notaries.com