In order to become a notary you have to take extensive training and fulfill certain requirements. After that you are known as a notary. When this happens you will be referred to as an officer of the law. Then you will be required to take on certain responsibilities. These include:
• Certify documents: Certify documents by placing a seal on them along with your signature so they can become legal. This includes wills, transference of real or personal property, and act as powers of attorney.
• Authenticate documents: You will be responsible for authenticating documents using your signature and by placing your official seal on the documents as proof of this authentication, thereby granting the documents as acceptable.
• Keeping records: You will be required by law to keep all copies of such documents and to record each signing in a log book for future record keeping and as proof in case a dispute should arise, and to forward such copies when requested.
• Oaths: As a notary, you may be required to issue or administer an oath for the sake of a legal proceeding, and make declarations of use of the proceedings.
• Certify transactions: You will be required at times to certify transactions that are made between parties, regarding negotiable instruments, and their legal rights therein.