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 Delaware, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the state to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. The appointment of notaries public in Delaware is managed by the Office of the Secretary of State. To become a notary in Delaware, applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the United States, and having no felony convictions. Delaware requires potential notaries to complete a training course and pass an examination. The types of documents that a notary in Delaware may be called upon to notarize include affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (including those for health care), divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. Notarization serves to deter fraud and ensures that the signers of documents are who they claim to be and are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly.