Notary Services

A Notarization or Notarial Act is the official fraud-deterrent process, which assures parties of a transaction that a document is authentic and can be trusted. Notarization is a three-part process performed by a Notary Public that includes vetting, certifying and record-keeping.

Notary Art

Required Identification

The person signing the document must physically be in the presence of the Notary for the notarization to be valid.

The following types of identification may be used to positively identify the person signing the document, as long as the identification is current or not expired for more than three (3) years:

  • A drivers license or identity card issued by any state

  • A U.S. Passport or an officially recognized passport of a foreign country

  • A U.S. military identification card

  • An identity card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe

  • At least one current document issued by the federal government or a state, county or other local government that contains the person’s photograph.

Notarization Types

Acknowledgments

An acknowledgment is typically performed on documents controlling or conveying ownership of valuable assets. Such documents include real property deeds, powers of attorney and trusts. For an acknowledgment, the signer must appear in person at the time of notarization to be positively identified and to declare ("acknowledge") that the signature on the document is their own, that it was willingly made and that the provisions in the document are intended to take effect exactly as written.

Witness/Attest Signatures

Witnessing or attesting a signature is just like an acknowledgment except that the signer must sign before the notary. If the document has already been signed, then the signer must re-sign the document in front of the notary.

Oaths/Affirmations (Jurats)

A jurat is typically performed on evidentiary documents that are critical to the operation of our civil and criminal justice system. Such documents include affidavits, depositions and interrogatories. For a jurat, the signer must appear in person at the time of notarization to sign the document and to speak aloud an oath or affirmation promising that the statements in the document are true. (An oath is a solemn pledge to a Supreme Being; an affirmation is an equally solemn pledge on one's personal honor.) A person who takes an oath or affirmation in connection with an official proceeding may be prosecuted for perjury should they fail to be truthful.

Certified Copies and True Copies

A CERTIFIED COPY IS A COPY OF A RECORD OF A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, UNIVERSITY/SCHOOL, HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, INSURANCE COMPANY, ETC., WHICH CAN ONLY BE ISSUED BY THE ORIGINAL ISSUING ORGANIZATION OR AGENCY, OR A SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED AGENT OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUER. AN INDIANA NOTARY PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO CREATE OR CERTIFY COPIES OF OFFICIAL RECORDS OR DOCUMENTS.

A TRUE COPY is a copy of any document containing a notarized affidavit or attestation of the person who made the copy, or is in a position to know that it is an accurate, “true” and complete copy of an original. Some authorities will accept a true copy in lieu of an original or certified copy, and other authorities, such as the BMV or U.S. Passport Office, will only accept originals or certified copies, and will not accept true copies.

Notary Journal

Findings of Fact Notary maintains a log of each notarial act for purposes of record keeping and protection from liability.