FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A Notary Public is a public official commissioned by the state to serve the public as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. This services serves as a fraud-deterrent for the signing of a variety of important documents.

A Notary's duty is to screen the signers of important documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction. Some notarizations also require the Notary to put the signer under an oath, declaring under penalty of perjury that the information contained in a document is true and correct. Property deeds, wills and powers of attorney are examples of documents that commonly require a Notary.

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for use in another country. An Apostille certifies: * the authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document, * the capacity in which that public official acted, and * when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal. ** The Apostille does not validate the contents of the document.

No. Apostilles can only be issued for documents to be used outside the United States of America. Generally, the notarial act is sufficient for use in any American territory or possession.

Notary Public's in good standing with current commissions can be searched on the Notary Public database: https://sos.maryland.gov/Notary/Pages/NotarySearch.aspx