A notary public's job primarily is to be a witness for important document signings and oaths. If you want to become a notary public, you must get a notary public license. This document authorizes you to stamp appropriate documents but does not allow you to do other legal things. In order to get this certification, you must study the job's responsibilities, take a notary public exam and renew your license frequently.
A notary public who simply acts as a witness for document signings should not be confused with the term in many other countries. Some nations refer to legal experts, much like an attorney, as a notary public. Those people can draft legal documents and give legal advice, but a witness notary public cannot.
There are no educational requirements if you want to get a notary public license. In fact, you can take the examination for that title without any preparation. Most people put a great deal of effort into studying before taking the test, because the questions are so specific to the details of the job.
Using a study guide or taking a class is a great way to prepare to get your notary public license. These learning opportunities will teach you about the rules and regulations of the job. Most of the study guides describes for whom you can and cannot act as a witness and in what situations your notary skills can be used. There are many loopholes and caveats that, in the United States, are specific to individual states.
The notary public exam is the final step before getting a notary public license. You will need to schedule an exam time and pay a fee in order to take this test. The exam asks a variety of questions focused on the knowledge that every notary public should have. With questions ranging from who needs to be present during a document signing to different reasons that a person's presence can be waved, this exam requires you to know very specific details in order to pass it.
With successful passage of the test, you officially will be a notary public. Along with your notary public license, you also will receive a seal. This seal is a two-sided stamp that embosses that state's notary seal on the paper and often must be signed by the notary in order to be official. Also, don't forget to renew your license when necessary, because many licenses expire after a certain amount of time.
