Frequently Asked Questions

A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.

A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.

We can provide witnesses at an additional cost. Please see our Fees page. 

A Mobile Notary public is a commissioned notary who travels to a designated location at the client’s convenience at an approved travel fee.

Remote online notarization (RON) occurs when a notary public commissioned in and
located in this Commonwealth performs a notarial act facilitated by communication
technology for a remotely located customer. The legal requirement that the signer
personally and physically appear before the notary is met by the use of audio-visual
electronic communication technology. The important role that the notary plays when a
statement is made in or a signature executed on a record now occurs remotely over the
internet, with a document that is in electronic form. Remote online notarization is also
called remote notarization, webcam notarization, online notarization or virtual
notarization.

Electronic notarization (e-notarization) in its most basic and common form is the process
of a commissioned notary affixing a digital signature or certificate to an electronic document, where the digital signature or certificate is generated by a complex mathematical formula (algorithms) involving coding and decoding (encryption) technology. The fundamental components of notarization,
including personal appearance of the record signers before the notary, still apply. But
rather than a paper document and a rubber stamp notary seal, the notary digitally places
their identifying information to a document which exists as electronic data in a computer-
readable form.

Notarization is the official fraud-deterrent process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic, and can be trusted. It is a three-part process, performed by a Notary Public, that includes of vetting, certifying and record-keeping. Notarizations are sometimes referred to as “notarial acts.”

No, it is simple, at least in the US: a lawyer is a licensed professional who is allowed to counsel clients in legal matters and represent them in court and other forums, both formal and informal. A Notary is a licensed professional whose job includes administering oaths, taking affidavits/declarations, and most commonly, authenticating the signatures on important documents. Although some lawyers are notaries, a notary does not have the authority to counsel clients or to represent their interests in legal matters.

• Vital records, such as birth and death certificates;

• U.S. Naturalization Certificates;

• Copyrighted material;

• Any record that says on its face “do not copy,” “illegal to copy” or something similar and

• Any other record that it’s prohibited by law to copy or certify.

• U.S. passports;

• School transcripts and diplomas;

• Contracts, leases and bills of sale;

• Medical records, consents or waivers and

• Certain public records.