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.
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.
Minnesota allows remote online notarization.
The Secretary of State says this has been in effect since January 1, 2019, and registration is required before remote acts.
Minnesota law uses both “Notary Public” and, in some places, “Notarial Officer.”
Minnesota has a Find a Notary search tool so you can verify status and authority.
The Secretary of State help page also lists common places where people often find notaries.
This is the American Society of Notaries page for how to become a notary in Minnesota.
These statute links are useful if you need legal details for a specific filing or dispute.
Continue to filing guidance after your forms are notarized.
How to file a court formNotary guide overview