What Does a Notary Public Do?

If you've never worked with a notary before, you might be wondering what exactly a notary public does and why their service matters. I'm Christian Nichols, a licensed Pennsylvania notary and NNA Certified Signing Agent serving Western PA. Let me walk you through what notaries do and how we help protect you and your important documents.

At its core, a notary public acts as an impartial witness appointed by the state to prevent fraud and verify identities during the signing of important documents. Think of us as official watchdogs who make sure everyone is who they say they are and that they're signing documents willingly and knowingly.

The Main Role of a Notary Public

When you meet with me for notarization, I perform several critical functions:

• Verify your identity - I'll check your government-issued photo ID to confirm you are who you claim to be
• Ensure you're acting willingly - I'll make sure no one is forcing or pressuring you to sign
• Confirm you understand the document - You must be aware of what you're signing
• Witness your signature - I watch you sign the document in my presence
• Complete the notarial certificate - I fill out the official notary wording and apply my seal
• Record the transaction - I maintain a permanent journal of every notarization

These steps create a legal paper trail that helps prevent identity theft, forgery, and coercion. When you see a notary seal on a document, it signals to banks, courts, government agencies, and other parties that proper verification took place.

What Notaries DON'T Do

It's important to understand the limits of what a notary can do. Here's what I cannot do as a notary:

• Provide legal advice - I'm not an attorney and can't advise you on the content or implications of your documents
• Choose the document wording - The notarial certificate must already be on your document or specified by the document issuer
• Notarize without you present - You must appear before me in person (remote online notarization is different)
• Notarize incomplete documents - The document must be complete with no blank spaces that could be filled in later
• Notarize if you can't provide ID - Valid photo identification is absolutely required
• Notarize documents I have a personal interest in - I can't notarize documents where I'm a party or beneficiary

If you need help preparing or understanding your documents, you should consult an attorney. My role is strictly to verify identity and witness signatures, not to provide legal guidance.

Common Documents Notaries Handle

Throughout my work serving Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Allegheny, Beaver, and Venango Counties, I regularly notarize:

• Real estate documents - Deeds, mortgage papers, refinance documents, HELOCs
• Powers of attorney - Both financial and healthcare POAs
• Estate planning documents - Living wills, advance directives, trust amendments
• Affidavits and sworn statements - Legal declarations under oath
• Vehicle title transfers - Car, boat, and RV title documents
• Contracts and agreements - Business contracts, leases, settlement agreements
• Permission and consent forms - Travel permissions, medical consents
• Employment verification - I-9 forms for remote workers

Types of Notarial Acts

Pennsylvania law recognizes several types of notarial acts. The most common ones I perform are:

Acknowledgment

This is the most common type. You sign the document (either before you meet me or in my presence), and then you acknowledge to me that you signed it willingly. This is typically used for deeds, powers of attorney, and contracts.

Jurat (Verification or Sworn Statement)

For a jurat, you must sign the document in my presence and swear or affirm under oath that the contents are true. This is used for affidavits and sworn statements.

Copy Certification

I can certify that a copy of certain original documents is a true and accurate copy. Note: In Pennsylvania, notaries cannot certify copies of vital records like birth or marriage certificates.

Why Notarization Matters

You might wonder why you need a notary at all. Here's why notarization is so important:

• Fraud prevention - The identity verification process makes it much harder for someone to forge your signature or impersonate you
• Legal validity - Many documents won't be accepted by courts, recorders, or agencies without proper notarization
• International recognition - Notarized documents are recognized across state lines and often internationally
• Peace of mind - You know that an impartial professional verified everything was done correctly
• Future proof - If a document is ever challenged, the notarization provides evidence of proper execution

Mobile Notary Services: I Come to You

As a mobile notary, I perform all the same functions as a notary who works at a bank or office - but I come to your location instead. This is especially helpful when:

• You're closing on a home and need a signing agent at your kitchen table
• You have stacks of real estate documents and can't easily transport them
• You're caring for an elderly parent who can't travel to an office
• You need after-hours or weekend service
• You need same-day or emergency notarization

I bring everything needed - my seal, journal, pens - and provide the same professional service you'd get anywhere else, just at your convenience.

My Qualifications

As your notary, I want you to know my credentials:

• Licensed Pennsylvania Notary Public - Commissioned by the PA Department of State
• NNA Certified Signing Agent - Specialized training for real estate loan documents
• $25,000 Errors & Omissions Insurance - Protection for you and your documents
• Background screened - You can trust me in your home or business

I take continuing education seriously and stay current with Pennsylvania notary laws and best practices.