A Notary Public serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, helping to prevent fraud and ensure the identities of all parties are properly verified. Many legal, financial, and real estate documents require notarization to be legally valid or accepted by institutions.
There are several common types of notarizations, each serving a different purpose:
Acknowledgment – Confirms that the signer personally appeared before the Notary, was identified, and willingly signed the document. Commonly used for deeds, powers of attorney, and real estate documents.
Jurat – Requires the signer to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true, and to sign the document in the Notary’s presence. Often used for affidavits and legal statements.
Oaths and Affirmations – A verbal promise of truthfulness. An oath is sworn (often religious), while an affirmation is a non-religious equivalent.
Copy Certification – A Notary verifies that a copy of a document is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. Note: Some documents, like vital records, cannot be copy certified by a Notary in Washington State.
Signature Witnessing – The Notary witnesses the signing of a document and verifies the identity of the signer. This is less common but still used in certain situations.
Each notarization type serves a specific legal function—if you're unsure which one your document needs, check with the document issuer or a legal professional.
An Apostille is a special certification that verifies the authenticity of a public document (such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, powers of attorney, or business documents) so it can be legally recognized in another country that is part of the Hague Convention.
At Nguyen Consultants, we make the Apostille process simple and stress-free.
Our team will:
- Guide you through the required steps
- Ensure your documents are properly notarized (if needed)
- Coordinate with the appropriate state or federal agency to obtain the Apostille
This means you don’t have to navigate confusing government requirements on your own — we handle the process from start to finish, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.
No, Notary Publics are not authorized to provide legal advice unless they are also licensed attorneys. If you need help understanding the content or legal implications of a document, it’s best to consult a qualified attorney before notarization.