Notary Services Lawyers Worldwide.

The core difference lies in their authority: a lawyer offers legal advice, while a notary confirms identity. A lawyer is paid to represent your interests, draft contracts, and explain the law to you. A Notary Public (in the US and most civil law systems) is a neutral state official whose only job is to witness signatures and prevent fraud by verifying that you are who you say you are. Crucially, a standard notary cannot explain the document you are signing; doing so is a crime known as the “Unauthorized Practice of Law.”

An Apostille is a streamlined form of international authentication used between countries that signed the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. It is essentially a specialized certificate attached to your document by the State (like the Secretary of State in the US or the FCDO in the UK) that verifies the notary’s signature is genuine. You need one whenever you send a legal document—like a birth certificate or corporate power of attorney—to another member country (e.g., from the US to France) to prove it isn’t a forgery.

No, a notary can only start the process; they cannot finish it. For non-Hague countries (like China, Canada, or the UAE), you must go through a longer chain of “Consular Legalization.” After the notary signs, the document often goes to the Secretary of State, then the US Department of State, and finally to the specific country’s Embassy to receive a consular stamp. This multi-step process is slower and more expensive than an Apostille, often taking weeks to complete.

Yes, Remote Online Notarization is now widely accepted and legally valid in over 45 US states and the UK. Instead of meeting in person, you sign the document digitally while on a recorded video call with the notary, who verifies your ID using “Credential Analysis” (like scanning your passport) and “Knowledge-Based Authentication” quizzes. Real estate and mortgage lenders have aggressively adopted this, with e-closing usage jumping over 200% since 2020 due to its convenience and robust audit trail.

An Oath is a verbal pledge to a higher power (e.g., “I swear to God”) that the contents of a document are true. An Affirmation is a legally equivalent secular pledge based on your personal honor (e.g., “I solemnly affirm”). An Affidavit is the actual written document containing the facts you are swearing to. The notary’s job is to administer the verbal oath or affirmation to you before you sign the affidavit, legally binding you to tell the truth under penalty of perjury.

This depends entirely on where you are located. In the UK and many international jurisdictions, notaries frequently certify “true copies.” However, in the US, state laws vary wildly: California notaries are strictly banned from certifying copies of almost anything (except powers of attorney), whereas Florida and Texas notaries are allowed to do so. Regardless of location, notaries can almost never certify copies of “Vital Records” (birth, death, or marriage certificates) because the government holds the original; you must order certified copies directly from the registrar.

An incorrect notarization—such as a missing stamp, an expired commission date, or the wrong venue—renders the document legally defective. In real estate, this is catastrophic; the county clerk may reject the deed for recording, or a title insurance company may refuse to cover the property, effectively freezing your ability to sell the house. In court, a judge can throw out a poorly notarized affidavit as inadmissible evidence, potentially costing you the entire case.

It is highly recommended. While you can buy generic Power of Attorney forms online, a notary cannot tell you if the specific powers listed (like “gifting assets” or “real estate authority”) are sufficient for your needs. If the form is too vague, banks and hospitals may refuse to honor it even if it is perfectly notarized. A lawyer ensures the document grants the exact legal authority you intend, while the notary simply ensures that you are the person signing it.