A notary is required to independently witness and authenticate legal documents and transactions, in particular when they need to be submitted to authorities overseas.
Notarisation confirms the authenticity of signed documents, ensuring that they are fully compliant with the requirements in the relevant jurisdiction. The certification by a notary can also be needed to confirm the authenticity of copied documents, such as passports or utility bills.
For a Notary Public to notarize your signature, you must sign it in the physical presence of the Notary. Generally speaking, it is best to wait until the Notary tells you that you can sign, as you may need to swear an oath first, for example. The most common mistake we see is customers coming in with documents already signed. Usually, this is easily rectified. You simply sign the document again in front of the Notary. However, it is, of course, a little messy. And it may not be accepted in your particular circumstances. If you want to be sure, contact your counsel, or the organization that you are sending the document to, and ask. If possible, bring a spare copy, just in case.
We Do Not Provide a General Mobile Notary signing service for Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Only Loan Signings.