A Guide to Notary Services

What is a notary public?

Notaries Public are individuals appointed by provincial authorities to act as official witnesses at document signing ceremonies. Notaries typically attend agreements and legal documents being signed to add their official stamp and witness their signing process.

What are notarized documents?

Notaries can authenticate documents. Notaries typically use an authentic seal, stamp, or mark to authenticate items used abroad as it ensures their genuineness. In order to do this, a notary has to review the original document before showing his official seal or mark on it. Notaries maintain files of From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia documents they review or sign – these files are typically accessible to the public so if you need proof that something signed by an official notary exists then simply request access.

Notaries are typically appointed by provincial governments and generally make themselves available to the public for a fee. Although it’s possible to find non-paying notaries on occasion, this occurs less frequently.

Types of documents that can be notarized

Statutory Declarations

Statutory declarations are https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ official statements presented before an official notary public and usually used when signing an oath is unnecessary or difficult.

Some examples of statutory declarations include:

  • change of name
  • citizenship
  • residency
  • affidavits

A affidavit is a formal declaration made before a notary public, usually used when making official declarations such as estate plans.

Statutory declarations vs. affidavits

The key difference between Affidavits and Statutory Declarations lies in their being taken under oath; therefore if any false statements were to be falsified in an Affidavit you may face perjury charges, while any instances where false claims were made via Statutory Declarations only warrant charges of making fraudulent declarations.

Separation Agreements

Separation agreements are legal documents that formally outline the terms of separation. These documents typically come into use between couples who have separated but don’t plan on divorcing each other.

Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement, commonly referred to as a prenup, is a legally-binding document created between two individuals prior to getting married that details how their properties will be divided in the event of divorce.

Wills

A will is a legal document that specifies how the assets of an individual will be divided upon their death. Wills typically ensure that possessions will go to those closest to them upon passing away.

Living Wills

A living will is a legally-binding document that details an individual’s desires regarding health care in case they’re no longer capable of making decisions for themselves. Living wills often serve to ensure that medical preferences of a deceased are met if they become incapacitated.

Power of Attorney

A power of Attorney is an official document which grants one individual the power to make decisions on behalf of another individual, including managing finances or taking medical decisions for them. A power of Attorney may be useful for various purposes including managing finances or making medical decisions on their behalf.

Almost any type of document can be notarized, some other common examples include:

  • birth certificates
  • marriage certificates
  • divorce papers
  • passports
  • visa applications
  • diplomas and transcripts
  • adoption papers
  • criminal background checks

Relevant Articles

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