A Notary Public is a state-appointed official who serves as an impartial witness during the signing of important documents, ensuring authenticity and preventing fraud.
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A Notary Public screens signers for true identity, willingness to sign without duress, and awareness of the document's contents. Some notarizations require an oath, affirming the document's truthfulness under penalty of perjury. Common documents include property deeds, wills, and powers of attorney.
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An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for international use. It certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the public official acted, and the identity of the seal or stamp on the document. Note: The Apostille does not validate the document's contents.
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No, Apostilles are meant for documents used outside the USA. Within the USA, a standard notarial act is typically sufficient.
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To verify a Notary Public in Maryland, search the Notary Public database: https://sos.maryland.gov/Notary/Pages/NotarySearch.aspx
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An Apostille certifies the origin of a public document for international use. Embassy Legalization, however, requires the destination country's embassy or consulate to authenticate the document.
