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 New York, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the New York Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness to document signing. To become a notary in New York, one must meet certain eligibility criteria such as being at least 18 years old, a resident of New York or have an office or place of business in New York, and have no disqualifying criminal convictions. Applicants must also complete a notary training course, pass a state notary exam, and pay the required fee. Once appointed, a notary public can notarize various legal documents including affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. Notaries are expected to verify the identity of the signers, ensure documents are signed voluntarily, and witness the signing process, thereby helping to deter fraud and ensure the integrity of the signed documents.