Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Happy Notary Public Day!
- Details
- Published: November 7, 2024
A notary public might be one of America’s most underappreciated public servants.
Most people who engage a notary for a needed service have no idea how much personal responsibility that notary accepts. Nor do they realize the importance of every step in a properly performed notarial act… they think the notary just “signs and stamps.”
Well, if this describes you, there’s good news. November 7, 2024—Notary Public Day—is the perfect time to thank a notary for the dedication, expertise and professionalism that anchors every notarization they perform.
From the first Notary Public Day that was celebrated in 1975, this special day has applauded the unique role of a notary public in America. By notarizing a signature, a notary conveys to relying parties that the notary verified the signer’s identity, that the signer exercised intent and free will in signing the document, that the signer appeared to be of sound mind, and that no other circumstances were present that would have required the notary to stop the notarization.
These formalities are stated in the notary’s signed and sealed “notarial certificate,” which appears in the document near the document signer’s signature. The notarial certificate states the location of the notarization; the notary’s official jurisdiction; the specific notarial act performed; and the name of the signer whose identity, free will and comprehension were screened by the notary.
Another important fact to applaud on Notary Public Day is that the effect of a notarization is so valued, it enjoys cross-border recognition. That is, the act of any duly commissioned/appointed notary of any U.S. state will be recognized as valid in any other state, even if each state’s notary laws differ.
So, the next time you need the services of a notary public, remember that they do so much more than just “sign and stamp.” And, that each year’s Notary Public Day isn’t the only time to thank a notary for the great public services they provide.