What Does a Notary Public Do?

Published 2026-08-01 · Updated 2026-08-01 · For the Public

The core function

A notary public is a state-commissioned impartial witness. The notary's job is to verify who signed a document — not what the document says, whether it is accurate, or whether it is a good idea.

A notary confirms the signer's identity, confirms they are signing willingly and appear aware of what they are doing, completes a notarial certificate, and applies a seal.

The main notarial acts

• Acknowledgment — the signer confirms the signature is theirs and was made voluntarily. The signature may have been made earlier, outside the notary's presence.
• Jurat — the signer swears or affirms the contents are true, and must sign in front of the notary.
• Oath or affirmation — administered on its own, as for a sworn statement.
• Attested copy — certifying a photocopy matches an original, subject to limits.
• Solemnizing marriage — Florida is one of the few states where notaries may perform marriages.

The distinction between an acknowledgment and a jurat matters: only a jurat requires the signature to be made in the notary's presence.

What a notary may never do

• Give legal advice, choose your document, or explain its legal effect
• Notarize a signature when the signer is not physically or, for RON, virtually present
• Notarize their own signature or a document they have a financial interest in
• Certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth, death, or marriage certificate
• Notarize a document with blank spaces

If a notary is telling you what your document means for your situation, that is the unauthorised practice of law.

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