Notarization
Notarization is the official act of a notary public confirming a signer's identity, watching them sign or acknowledge a document, and recording it with the notary's signature and seal.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 1 min read
What a notary does
- Checks the signer's identity, usually with a government photo ID.
- Confirms the person is signing willingly.
- Completes a notarial certificate, such as an acknowledgment or a jurat, then signs it and applies a seal.
- Records the act in a journal, where state law requires one.
When you need it
You need a notary only when a law, a court, a county recorder or the other party requires one. Common cases are property deeds, powers of attorney, some affidavits and certain vehicle title transfers. A notary vouches for who signed, not for what the document says, and most business contracts, like service agreements and NDAs, need no notary at all.
Notarization and e-signatures
An e-signature on its own doesn't satisfy a notarization requirement. Many states allow electronic notarization, and remote online notarization over live video with a commissioned notary. SignMaster collects electronic signatures; it doesn't provide notaries or notarize documents.
Questions? Answers.
Can I e-sign a document that has to be notarized?
Only through a notarization your state recognizes, such as electronic or remote online notarization. See can you e-sign a notarized document.
Sources
- Uniform Law Commission, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2021) · uniformlaws.org