
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.Ī 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 document’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 document’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.


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.Ī 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.
