Guide
What Does a Notary Do?
A notary public is an impartial, state-commissioned witness whose job is to confirm signers are who they say they are and are signing willingly — deterring fraud on documents that matter.
The core job: verify, witness, seal
When you notarize a document, the notary checks your identification, confirms you understand and are signing of your own free will, watches you sign, and then completes a notarial certificate and applies a seal. That seal tells anyone who later relies on the document that a neutral official verified the signing.
The two acts: acknowledgment and jurat
Most notarizations are one of two acts. An acknowledgment confirms you signed a document willingly — used for deeds, memoranda, and releases. A jurat adds an oath: you swear the contents are true, used for affidavits and sworn statements. The document usually tells the notary which one is required.
What a notary does not do
A notary is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice, draft your documents, or vouch for whether the content is a good idea. Their role is limited to identity and willingness. For legal advice, you need an attorney; for getting the document notarized and — if needed — recorded, that's what Jurably does.
Online or in person
Today a notary can verify you over live video (remote online notarization) or in person as a mobile notary. Either way the act is the same, and the seal carries the same weight.