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 Kansas, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. To become a notary in Kansas, one must meet certain eligibility criteria, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a resident of Kansas, and having no felony convictions. Applicants are required to complete a notary training course and pass a state-administered exam. Once commissioned, notaries in Kansas are authorized to notarize various legal documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (including those for health care), divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. The notarization process involves verifying the identity of the signers, ensuring they understand the document and are signing voluntarily, and witnessing the signing before applying the notary's official seal.