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 Oregon, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Oregon Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. To become a notary in Oregon, applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a resident of Oregon (or have a place of employment or practice in Oregon), and able to read and write English. Prospective notaries are required to complete a notary training course and pass a state-administered exam. Additionally, they must not have had a notary commission revoked or suspended in any state within the past 10 years. Once commissioned, Oregon notaries are authorized to perform various notarial acts, including administering oaths, taking acknowledgments, and witnessing or attesting signatures. Notarization is often required for documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (including those for health care), divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust to ensure the authenticity of the signatures and the signers' understanding and willingness to sign.