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No.  A notarization typically means the signer acknowledged to the notary that he or she understands the document and is signing knowingly and voluntarily, or the signer vouched under oath or affirmation that the contents of the document were true.

No.  A notary is forbidden under Indiana law from preparing legal documents or acting as a legal advisor unless he or she is also a licensed attorney.  A notary cannot answer legal questions or provide legal advice about your particular document.

A notarization only proves three things: the person signing the document is actually the person signing the document, that they had a general understanding of the document, and that they were signing of their own free will. An improperly notarized document can be challenged in court and the result is for the court to interpret. A bad notarization does NOT automatically invalidate the transaction, document, or even the notarization. In fact, most of the time, unless specifically addressed by state law, an improper or illegal notarization will be honored as valid. The reasoning for that is improper or illegal notarizations are generally discovered many years after the act and the repercussions of invalidating the item might be too far-reaching or too difficult to consider.

No. You sign the document in front of the notary. That's the point. The notary confirms its your signature. The notary can't do that if the document is already signed. Anyone could have signed it.

A notary will ask a signer for a document such as a driver’s license or government-issued identification card that includes a photograph, signature and some information describing the person. You can find a full list of required identification verification documents here.

A notary public may refuse to perform a notarization if he or she cannot be certain of a prospective signer’s identity, willingness, or understanding of what is happening at that moment. In addition, a notary may not notarize a document in which he or she has a financial interest.

State laws may vary, but in general, no. For vital records documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates, the requestor should visit the local agency that holds these documents, such as a local county clerk. There are some limited instances when a notary may certify a copy, but it is best to check with the notary of your state.

A notary may notarized papers that require notarization such as the Affidavit of Support, but they may not prepare or file another person’s immigration papers unless he or she is an attorney or a US DOJ accredited representative.

Notarization is an essential part of signing contracts and many other official documents, in order to help prevent fraud.

Notaries are local officials appointed by the state to serve as impartial witnesses. When a document needs to be notarized, it means you must have a notary public present to verify your identity and to witness the actual signature. The notary also verifies that you are signing willingly and that you are aware of the contents of the document or transaction.

They will then “notarize” the signed contract or other document by adding their signature and stamping it with their official seal.

Not every document that needs to be signed needs to be notarized — only certain types of paperwork require a notary’s seal. While laws vary from state to state, they typically include real estate transactions, certain legal documents, many financial documents, and some forms related to healthcare. Documents that require notarization usually indicate that clearly, providing space for the notary’s signature and seal.

Some of the most common types of documents needing to be notarized are:

Articles of incorporation

Real estate contracts and property deeds

Legal affidavits

Loan documents

Powers of attorney

Passport applications