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The notary acknowledgment form is a legal document that a notary public uses to make a sworn statement that states the person in question signed a document. Before a notary public is able to create a sworn statement, they need to see a form of government-issued photo ID to prove that the person is who they claim they are. Certain legal documents such as a durable power of attorney, a last will and testament, and certain types of bill of sale require a notary acknowledgment.
Notary publics are individuals and in some cases organizations that have gone through the process of getting licensed by state governments. The licensing allows them to serve as an official witness to signing documents. A witness-for-hire whose acknowledgment is considered more authentic than a simple disinterested witness(es).
Generally speaking, you can find a notary public at bank branches, the UPS Store, and most financial institutions. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. If you’re unable to find a notary locally then consider using an online platform like Notarize.com which is one of the most popular providers of online notary services.
Corporation or LLC signature - this is when a person representing an LLC or corporation is signing on behalf of the organization. Language should be included in the acknowledgment to make this clear.
Individual signature - this is the most common type of signature that a notary will acknowledge. An individual will show the notary public a government-issued photo ID before it can be notarized.
Jurat - when an individual is required to swear an affidavit before a notary public or take some kind of oath.
Partnership signature - When an individual signs on behalf of a partnership then the specific type of partnership entity needs to be mentioned in the language of the acknowledgment.
States require specific kinds of documents to be notarized. These include but aren’t limited to a power of attorney and last will and testament. Even when it’s not a requirement based on state law, it’s a good idea to have important documents notarized. For example executive contracts, business contracts with a high dollar value, etc. It lets anyone that is concerned know that before signing, the ID was verified.
A notary public usually charges by the hour with a minimum flat fee so it’s important to have everything you want to be signed prepared beforehand. That’ll allow the notary public to focus on verification and witnessing your signature. Be sure to have enough copies of the document ready as well.
Coordinate with all parties that will be signing the documents to make sure you meet up at the same time. It goes without saying that anyone signing the documents must be at the age of majority and must bring a government-issued photo ID. Without that, the notary public cannot, in good faith, notarize the document because they’ll be unable to verify the identities of the parties involved.
As mentioned previously, there are many financial institutions that will have notary public services for their customers. Sometimes, it’s even free but there may be a fee associated with it depending on the type of document. Keep in mind that many states have a limit on the amount a notary can charge for their services.
You can also find local notary public services online with platforms like 123notary.com. It has a directory of registered notary publics that you can search.
The most convenient option is to use an online notary service like Notarize.com. It has a pool of notaries that will allow you to select a convenient time and even carry out the notarization from home or your office.
Once you’ve found a suitable service or an individual notary public, schedule a time and make sure everyone arrives at the venue with the required documents. Sign and execute in the presence of the notary public.
Every person that signed the document should also have their own original copy with the notarized seal of acknowledgment. This is an extra level of insurance for all the parties involved in case there’s an issue that needs to be resolved.
Each state has its own laws governing the profession of notary publics. It’s important to have a general understanding of the requirements laid out there before using a notary public. You can find more information here.