A Notary Public is a public officer serving the community by performing various official acts to deter fraud. Companies, corporations, and private citizens use a notary as an official impartial witness when signing (notarizing) legal documents.
A part of a notary’s ministerial duties requires screening signers of essential papers to verify their true identity and willingness to sign the paperwork without intimidation or coercion. In some cases, the notary has the signer taken an oath and declare under penalty of perjury that the information in the paperwork is correct and accurate.
Most notaries work at traditional offices, banks, or financial institutions. Some notaries are self-employed, working part-time or full-time at the same institution or in a mobile capacity.