Why a Notary Must Witness Certain Signatures 🖋️

Notaries must witness the signing of documents.

Many people are surprised to learn that some documents must be signed in front of the notary.

This requirement exists to protect the integrity of the document and ensure that the signature truly belongs to the person signing.

When a signature must be witnessed, the notary verifies:

• the identity of the signer

• that the signer understands what they are signing

• that the signer is signing willingly

• that the signature occurs in the notary’s presence

This process helps prevent fraud and protects both the signer and the parties relying on the document.

Some documents may already be signed before meeting the notary, depending on the type of notarization required. In other cases, such as a jurat, the signer must sign the document in front of the notary.

Why this matters

Witnessing signatures is one of the key responsibilities of a notary. It helps ensure that important documents are executed properly and can be trusted by the parties who rely on them.

FC Signings & Co. provides professional notary services with professionalism, neutrality, and attention to detail.

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