What Can a Notary Do? Understanding a Notary's Role

What Can a Notary Do? Understanding a Notary's Role

When you have a document notarized, you may wonder what your notary can—and cannot—do.

A notary can verify your identity, witness or acknowledge your signature, administer an oath when required, and complete the notarial certificate.

But a notary cannot provide legal advice or tell you what to sign.

If you don't understand a document, aren't sure which option to choose, or have questions about what you're agreeing to, those questions should be directed to the person or professional who prepared the document.

A simple rule to remember:

Your notary can notarize your signature—but can't tell you what to sign. ✍️

Knowing the difference helps protect you and helps keep your notarization appointment running smoothly.

Magnolia Signature Services

Notary & Apostille

Your notary can notarize your signature, but they can't tell you what to sign.