Estate planning is the process of deciding how your personal, financial, and healthcare matters should be handled if you become unable to make decisions or after you pass away.

If you’ve ever been asked to “get your document notarized,” you may have wondered what a notary public actually does. Many people only need a notary a few times in their lives, so it’s understandable that the process can seem confusing.

A notary public is a state-appointed official who helps deter fraud by verifying the identity of the person signing a document. The notary confirms that the signer appears willing to sign, understands what they are signing, and meets the legal requirements for the notarization.

It’s important to understand that a notary is not verifying that the contents of a document are true or giving legal advice. Instead, the notary’s responsibility is to properly identify the signer and complete the notarization according to Arizona law.