There are many situations in which you may need the services of a notary public. If you are selling your car, the Certificate of Title must be notarized. If you get a mortgage or refinance, you will need a notary public when executing those documents. Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney – At one point or another, you will probably need to find a notary public.
What is a notary public?
As defined by the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS § 41-312E), an Arizona notary public is a public official commissioned by the Secretary of State to perform notarial acts. A notary is an impartial witness who verifies the identities of the signers of the documents.
Each state has notaries, but the requirements and terms may differ from state to state. In Arizona, a notary public must:
- Be at least eighteen years of age.
- Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.
- Be a resident of this state for income tax purposes and claim the individual’s residence in this state as the individual’s primary residence on state and federal tax returns.
- I have never been convicted of a felony.
- Maintain a manual approved by the secretary of state and outlining the duties, authority, and ethical responsibilities of notaries public.
- Be able to read and write in English.
To become an Arizona notary public, one must apply, pay a fee, and secure a bond for liability purposes. There are supplies that must be purchased to perform tasks. Once accepted, the term for an Arizona notary is four years.
Where can I find a notary public in Arizona?
The Secretary of State maintains a database of all commissioned notaries. You can search for a notary public in Arizona online. If you don’t have someone in mind, enter a zip code to find one near you.
Does a notary public charge a fee?
A notary public has the right to charge a fee for the service, and can assume that he will do so if the notary is not an employee of a company that is a party to the transaction. You can also find a notary public at mail and postal companies, such as PostNet or UPS. You will be charged a fee for notarial services. Your bank or credit union has notaries on staff, and there may be a fee. Be sure to ask if the fee can be waived if you have a good account relationship.
Where can I get something notarized for free?
Many documents that need to be notarized are related to transactions through a business you are dealing with. For example, when you buy a home, you will be dealing with a title company that will require real estate documents to be notarized. Many legal documents generated by your attorney must be notarized. Those types of businesses generally have one or two employees who are notaries, and you can use those services as part of your transaction at no additional charge.
Call first to make sure the notary public is available. Even in a law firm or title company, there may be only one or two people who are notaries, and you want to make sure they will be there when you need them. The same for postal / postal companies and banks. A bank may require you to be a customer to provide notarial services.
If the notary you have chosen is a person not employed by a company with which you are doing business, you will need to find one. You may notice that there are no phone numbers listed on the Secretary of State website. You may want to look up that notary at the Better Business Bureau first to make sure there are no outstanding complaints. Actually, this might be a good place to start your notary search! BBB does not charge you for accessing your information.
