Understanding the role of a Notary in Arizona

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 is 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.