What Is a Notary Public?
A notary public is authorized by law to certify documents, take affidavits, and administer oaths, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Notarization is important as legal proof that the signature or signatures on a document have been witnessed, and the parties have been identified by an impartial public official. You need a notary in everything that is important in life — marriage, divorce, house purchase documents — to make it legal.
Notaries cannot give legal advice or prepare legal documents. A notary seal may be embossed or stamped in ink.
The Three Core Duties of a Notary
"They first thing is to ensure they are who they say they are. We also have to make sure they are not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol or anything that will deter their ability to make a decision when signing a document. The third thing is that we have to ensure that they are not in any way being coerced to sign a document. Most people just think notaries are there to stamp documents and that's it. When you put those three things together, though, our job really is to protect the public."
— Lewis, Indiana Notary Public
Identity Verification
Confirming that signers are exactly who they claim to be through valid identification.
Willingness & Capacity
Ensuring the signer is of sound mind, not under duress or the influence of substances.
No Coercion
Verifying the signer is acting freely and is not being pressured or coerced in any way.
New Indiana Notary Law
A new Indiana law taking effect July 1 will help protect both the profession and the public. Key changes include:
- Additional, ongoing training required for all Indiana notaries
- Bond requirement raised from $5,000 to $25,000
- Average settlement against a notary is $18,000 — the higher bond ensures clients can recover for damages
The higher bond protects clients from rare but costly fraudulent notary acts, ensuring they can recover damages where applicable.
Notaries Can Make Your Life Easier
"If people turn on their TV during daytime hours, they see a lot of court TV and, I'd say, over 90 percent of those problems would go away if they used a notary. People that don't use a notary are often called plaintiffs or defendants."
— Lewis, Indiana Notary Public
"If people want an easier life, using a notary will wipe out a lot of heartache in the end. And it's very cheap to use me too."
— Lewis, Indiana Notary Public