Who We Are
As a notary public, we often get questions about legal matters that are beyond what we can do as notaries. In this blog post, we’ll clarify what we can and can’t do, particularly when it comes to legal documents.
Here is a link to an article by the National Notary Association that helps to explain this.
We’re Not Attorneys
It’s important to remember that notaries public are not attorneys. We’re not licensed to practice law, and we’re not qualified to provide legal advice. We notarize legal documents and verify your ID but that is it. If you call us saying that you need a particular document and ask for our advice about how or where to get it, we’ll have to say, “You’ll need to speak to an attorney.” We understand that this is frustrating because attorneys can be expensive, but we can’t legally help, plus we’re not trained as attorneys.
No Legal Advice Here
As notaries, we’re not allowed to give legal advice or guidance on legal matters. This includes:
- Explaining what the document means
- Explaining what happen if you sign a document
- Recommending specific documents or contracts
- Drafting or creating legal documents
- Confirming if something that you signed is legal or not legal
No Document Creation
A notary public has no training or expertise in creating legal documents or understanding their intricacies. Our role is limited to verifying the identity of signers and witnessing the signing of documents. In Louisiana, notaries can actually create documents, but not in Alabama. Notary law is controlled by the individual states.
Our Role in Real Estate Closings
In the context of real estate closings, our role is to:
- Verify the identity of signers ( The name on the document must be on your ID)
- Witness the signing of documents
- Provide a brief explanation of the document being signed for example, “This is a deed transferring ownership of the property.”
We can’t explain what happens if you sign and can’t explain the specifics of your transaction such as, “When will I get the money from the sale of my property?” Questions about your real estate closing can be answered by your lender, title company, or realtor.
Conclusion
We’re committed to providing our clients with accurate and reliable notary services. While we’re happy to assist with the signing of documents, we can’t give legal advice or create legal documents. If you have any questions and you’re not sure if we can help, please don’t hesitate to call Kelly and ask at 205-908-5342.