If you need a copy of an original document, such as a college degree or passport, getting the copy notarized means the notary certifies that the reproduction is true, exact and complete.ДЄ common perk of banking with a brick-and-mortar institution is access to a notary public at your local branch.

In this case, the notary must witness your signature and will require you to speak an oath aloud promising that the documentвЂ™s contents are truthful, under penalty of perjury. This process is necessary for documents required for civil or criminal proceedings in the courts, such as affidavits, depositions and interrogatories. The notary must positively identify you as the signer and ask you to acknowledge that you are signing willingly and that you understand and intend all the documentвЂ™s provisions. This is for documents that control ownership of a valuable asset, such as a deed, power of attorney or trust document.

With this type of notarization, the notary simply certifies that you are who you claim to be and that you signed the document in their presence. There are several different services a notary public may perform, depending on the type of legal document you are getting notarized:

Notice to add or remove a name from a title.

Beneficiary designation for a retirement account or insurance policy.

While nearly any kind of document can be notarized, you are most likely to need the services of a notary with the following types of documents: Types of Documents You May Need to Notarize

The notary will notarize the document with an official stamp and sign and date the document themselves.

If you mistakenly sign it ahead of time, you will need to sign it again in their presence or return with a fresh, unsigned document that you will sign in front of them, depending on the type of notarization you need.

Once you have been verified, the notary must witness your signing of the document in their presence.

The notary will verify that you understand what you are signing and that you are doing so of your own volition.

Present the notary with a photo ID to verify that you are the person required to sign the document.

Bring the unsigned document with you to meet the notary public.

The notary publicвЂ™s job is to make sure that you are who you say you are, not signing under duress and aware of what you are signing. What Does a Notary Do and How Does It Work? If you need notary services, hereвЂ™s what you should know about notarizing a document at your local bank branch. However, many banks offer the perk of fee-free notarization to account holders. The process of notarization requires you to sign the document in the presence of a notary public, a public official appointed by the state government to be an impartial witness.ДЄ notary public can charge any fee up to the maximum allowed by their state.

Getting a document notarized is a universally accepted method for ensuring its authenticity.

Where to get a letter notarized