A notary looks at your document, but not to judge what it says. The job is to confirm who is signing and that they are signing willingly. It isn’t to decide whether the document is accurate, fair or a good idea.
That surprises many people, especially those signing something private or complicated. Here’s what actually happens at the table.
What a notary does look at
A notary needs enough of the document in view to do the notarization correctly. That usually means checking:
- The type of document, because it gets recorded in the notary’s journal.
- The signer’s name, so it can be compared with their ID.
- Blank spaces, since a notary can’t notarize an incomplete document.
- The notary wording, which shows whether the document calls for an acknowledgment or a jurat.
If you’re unsure about any of this, our guide on preparing for your appointment covers what to have ready before the notary arrives.
What a notary doesn’t check
Notarization doesn’t mean a document is true, legal or enforceable. A notary stamp on a contract doesn’t mean the terms are good for you, and a stamp on a sworn statement doesn’t mean the notary confirmed the facts in it. If you swear to a statement, the truth of that statement is your responsibility.
A notary also can’t explain what your document means, tell you whether you need it, or help you choose between versions. That would be legal advice, and a notary who isn’t also an attorney can’t give it. Our page on what a notary cannot do has the full list.
Should you worry about privacy?
If you’re signing a will, a trust or a settlement, you may not want anyone reading the details. That’s a reasonable concern. The notary needs to see enough to complete the notarization, but isn’t there to study your personal affairs.
You don’t need to walk the notary through what the document is for. Just have it ready to sign, with the blanks filled in. If a page is especially sensitive, tell the notary and ask what they need to see.
Read it yourself before the appointment
Because the notary isn’t reviewing the content for you, the time to ask questions is before the visit. Read the whole document and fill in every blank that applies. Ask whoever prepared it, or an attorney, about anything you don’t understand. Then wait to sign if the document needs to be signed in front of the notary, as a jurat does.
Not sure which kind of notarization your document uses? Our guide to acknowledgments and jurats explains the difference. The notary can’t choose for you, so if the document has no notary wording, ask the person or office that requested it.
Need a notary? We come to you anywhere in Los Angeles County, 24/7 by appointment. Book online or call (424) 484-9268.