Some formal documents must be notarized. This page explains what notarization is, how to prepare, and how to avoid common mistakes.
A notary public is a person approved by the state to check identity and watch people sign important papers. Notarization helps prevent fraud.
The notary must be neutral. A person who benefits from your document usually should not notarize it. In many states, a beneficiary or a party to the document may not be allowed to notarize. Even if a notary disagrees with what the document says, the notary can still notarize the document.
There are multiple ways to find notaries.
For example, sometimes notaries can come to your home. You can ask in your community to find out if someone you know is a notary.
Also, some businesses or organizations have notaries in their building ready to watch people sign documents. You can often find a notary at:
Each state has its own requirements for becoming a notary. For example, in Massachussetts, a person must be over 18 and live in or do regular business in Massachusetts. In Kansas, a person can live in a neighboring state too as long as they work regularly in Kansas.
The American Society of Notaries has information about becoming a notary in each state.
Each state has it's own requirements, so ask a local notary for information specific to your situation. Here are some example tasks that are often useful to do before your appointment:
Do not sign early unless your form instructions clearly say you can.
Most notarized forms must be signed in front of the notary.
Notarization details can vary by state. Use your jurisdiction page for local notes and resources:
After notarization, review how to submit your completed forms to the court.
How to file a court form