Notarize
Having a notary public officially verify your identity and witness your signature on a document.
To notarize a document means having a notary public verify your identity and watch you sign it. The notary then stamps or seals the document and signs it themselves, confirming that you are who you say you are and that you signed voluntarily.
Notarization does not mean the notary reviewed or approved the contents of the document. The notary is only confirming identity and witnessing the signature.
Documents that commonly require notarization include:
- Real estate deeds and mortgage documents
- Affidavits (sworn written statements)
- Powers of attorney
- Certain court filings
- Some business formation documents
To get a document notarized, you typically need to:
- Bring the unsigned document to a notary public.
- Show a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Sign the document in front of the notary.
In Minnesota, notary services are available at many banks, law offices, UPS stores, and government offices. Some notaries charge a small fee. Minnesota also permits remote online notarization under certain conditions.
Example: You need to file an affidavit with the court. You bring the unsigned affidavit and your driver’s license to your bank, where a notary watches you sign it, then applies their official seal and signature.
When signing important legal documents such as real estate deeds, affidavits, powers of attorney, or certain court filings.