Notaries are public officials appointed by the governments of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories to serve their citizens as trusted, impartial witnesses to document signings. A Notary's geographic authority to perform notarizations is strictly limited to the boundaries of the appointing state or jurisdiction and to the term of the commission, which may vary from two to 10 years. They must also uphold the law of the appointing state or jurisdiction. When performing official notarial acts, Notaries are serving the public service on behalf of their state. They cannot violate the law at anyone's request — and that includes employers, clients, friends or family members. Notaries must also be impartial, which means they must never refuse to serve or discriminate in their quality of service, based on an individual's race, nationality, religion, politics, sexual orientation or status as a non-customer. As representatives of the state, Notaries must perform their official duties with respect and seriousness for the public service role they play as a trusted, impartial witness.

Millions of Americans serve as Notaries Public to protect consumers from fraud and identity theft. In fact, they are in such high demand by businesses, industries and private individuals that there is one Notary for every 72 people in the country. While being a Notary might seem mundane, they witness and authenticate the signing of our most important transactions: mortgage documents, powers of attorney, contracts, adoption papers, advance medical directives and other dealings central to our lives and the economy. It's also a great way to earn extra income working from home or improve your resume and career. Here are the top five reasons why you should consider becoming a Notary Public. Make Additional Income While Notaries are appointed by their states and serve as public officials, they charge their clients directly and the revenue is theirs to keep. That's why tens of thousands of people hit the streets as "mobile Notaries" in their communities. Most states regulate how much a Notary can charge for an individual notarization (for example, $15 in California and $10 in Florida), but many clients often need more than one signature notarized. You're also allowed to charge additional fees for items such as travel, supplies and other expenses. Additional Resources: 22 Ways To Make Money As A Notary Become a Notary Signing Agent If you like the idea of being a Notary to make additional income, becoming a Notary Signing Agent is right up your alley. An NSA is a trained and certified professional that handles the notarization of loan documents in real estate closings. For the mortgage finance industry, NSAs serve as the critical final link between the banks and the borrower to complete the loan. They are hired directly by title companies and signing services as independent contractors to ensure that real estate loan documents are signed by the borrower, notarized, and returned for processing. Notaries make a considerable amount of extra income from this line of mortgage finance work, in addition to their work as a mobile Notary. Additional Resources: By Fluke And Design: How 3 Notaries Built Thriving Businesses Improve Your Resume/Skillset Notaries are in high demand in a variety of industries, including banking, finance, medical, legal, government, insurance, technology … the list goes on. In fact, just about every industry uses the services of Notaries, so becoming one will add to your marketable skill sets, improve your resume and increase your value as an employee. In the workplace, Notaries serve two general functions: Notarizing documents in the back office for co-workers and bosses or notarizing for customers in a bank or their local photocopy and shipping shop. Many employers value employees with Notary skills to handle their document authentication needs and provide customers with top-notch service. Additional Resources: Notarizing On The Job: What You And Your Boss Need To Know Enjoy a Flexible Schedule If you choose the mobile Notary/Notary Signing Agent route, you will have the flexibility to set your own hours. It's a perfect line of work for home-based entrepreneurs, moonlighters, stay-at-home parents (who can do mobile notarizations in the evening) or anyone looking to make some additional income. Many people who need notarizations request them after normal business hours, so you can make the most of your evenings, or arrange a time that's right for you. Additional Resources: Alternate Income Opportunities Help Your Community America's Notaries Public are known for their spirit of helping those in need. If you are the type of person who enjoys giving back to your community, being a Notary is a great way to support that passion. Many types of people need notarization services but cannot afford them, like the elderly, homeless, disabled and college students. These groups typically need notarizations for powers of attorney, residency affidavits, advance medical directives, college transcripts and enrollment verifications. Notaries often hold events at community centers, retirement homes and campuses to provide free or low-cost notarizations. It's also a great way to network and market yourself for paying clients.

A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government — typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries are publicly commissioned as "ministerial" officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would otherwise be the case with a "judicial" official. What does a Notary do? A Notary's duty is to screen the signers of important documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction. Some notarizations also require the Notary to put the signer under an oath, declaring under penalty of perjury that the information contained in a document is true and correct. Property deeds, wills and powers of attorney are examples of documents that commonly require a Notary. Impartiality is the foundation of the Notary's public trust. They are duty-bound not to act in situations where they have a personal interest. The public trusts that the Notary's screening tasks have not been corrupted by self-interest. And impartiality dictates that a Notary never refuse to serve a person due to race, nationality, religion, politics, sexual orientation or status as a non-customer. As official representatives of the state, Notaries Public certify the proper execution of many of the life-changing documents of private citizens — whether those diverse transactions convey real estate, grant powers of attorney, establish a prenuptial agreement, or perform the multitude of other activities that enable our civil society to function. Why are Notaries and notarizations necessary? Through the process of notarization, Notaries deter fraud and establish that the signer knows what document they're signing and that they're a willing participant in the transaction. How does a Notary identify a signer? Generally, a Notary will ask to see a current ID that has a photo, physical description and signature. Acceptable IDs usually include a driver's license or passport. What a Notary is Not Unlike Notaries in foreign countries, a U.S. Notary Public is not an attorney, judge or high-ranking official. A U.S. Notary is not the same as a Notario Publico and these differences can be confusing for immigrants when they approach Notaries in this country. Notaries in the United States should be very clear about what they can or cannot do to serve immigrants the right way and steer clear of notario issues. Becoming a Notary Public You can become a Notary in your state if you meet the eligibility requirements and follow all of the steps your state includes in their commissioning process. The process varies from state to state, but generally, you would fill out an application, pay the state's application fee, take a training course or pass an exam, file your bond and oath of office, and buy your Notary supplies.