A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In California, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the California Secretary of State to serve as an unbiased witness to the signing of important documents. To become a notary in California, one must meet certain eligibility criteria such as being at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the state, and not having any disqualifying criminal convictions. Prospective notaries must complete a state-approved training course, pass a state-administered examination, and undergo a background check. Once appointed, a notary public in California is authorized to perform various notarial acts including acknowledging signatures on documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. Notaries must follow specific procedures and maintain a journal of their notarial acts. They are also required to use an official seal or stamp to notarize documents, which serves as a mark of authenticity and helps prevent fraud.