The person who can notarize a document is a notary public —a government- authorized official appointed or commissioned by a state or relevant authority to witness the signing of documents, verify the identity of signers, and apply an official seal or stamp to authenticate the document
. Additional details about who can notarize:
- Notaries public are often found in banks, law offices, government offices, and some businesses. Many bank employees and lawyers are also notaries public
- In some cases, other officials such as records clerks, county clerks, escrow agents, and honorary consuls may perform notarizations depending on jurisdiction and document type
- The key role of a notary is to confirm the identity of the signer, witness the signing, and ensure the signer is signing willingly and understands the document
- Notaries cannot notarize documents in which they have a direct interest or conflict of interest
- Notarization can be done in person or remotely via online notarization platforms where allowed by law
In summary, only an officially commissioned notary public or authorized equivalent (such as certain government officials or consuls depending on jurisdiction) can notarize a document by witnessing the signature and affixing their official seal and signature to validate it legally
