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 Vermont, 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 Vermont, one must meet certain eligibility criteria, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the United States, and having no criminal record that would disqualify the applicant. Vermont does not require notaries to take a training course or pass a state exam, which is less stringent than some other states. However, notaries must be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a notary public as outlined by Vermont state law. The types of documents that a notary can notarize in Vermont include affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (including those for health care), divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. Notaries in Vermont are authorized to perform a variety of notarial acts such as taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, and witnessing or attesting signatures.