Notarization serves as the official process designed to prevent fraud and assure all parties involved in a transaction that a document is authentic and reliable. This crucial process, conducted by a Notary Public, encompasses three essential steps: vetting, certifying, and record-keeping. These steps are collectively referred to as "notarial acts."

At its core, notarization provides assurance from an impartial and duly appointed Notary Public that a document's authenticity is verified, its signature is genuine, and the signer acted willingly and knowingly without coercion. This verification ensures that the terms of the document are intended to be legally binding and enforceable.

The primary value of notarization lies in the Notary's impartial examination of the signer's identity, willingness, and understanding of the document's contents. This scrutiny plays a critical role in detecting and deterring document fraud, thereby safeguarding the personal rights and property of individuals from potential forgers, identity thieves, and those who might exploit vulnerable individuals.

Each day, notarization prevents numerous instances of forged, coerced, or incompetent signings that could otherwise inundate our judicial system and undermine the trust essential for the functioning of our civil society. By upholding the integrity of legal documents through thorough verification and authentication, notarization reinforces the foundation of trust upon which our legal and business transactions rely.