Notarized, meaning documents that have been verified by a Notary Public, are important in the world of banking, finance, and commerce.
From document verification, identity verification, and even the settling of ownership transfers through bearer shares in certain jurisdictions, notary publics play an important role globally.
In this article, we’re going to explore the meaning of notarized documents in detail and answer common questions that we receive on the topic.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
Notarized Meaning
Notarized, meaning verification by a Notary Public, refers to the legal authentication of documents. This document verification includes confirming the authenticity of the signatures, identity verification, and the voluntary signing of the document.
In other words, when a document is “notarized”, the Notary Public has confirmed that the document has legal validity. This is one way to ensure fraud prevention and the credibility of the documents in a wide range of settings.
In the world of banking, notarized documents take on a whole new meaning. This is because having documents notarized can provide compliance teams with the necessary confidence that documents are credible.
Likewise, notarized documents provide banks with an additional level of trust and authenticity. When onboarding business accounts, notarized documents can be used to verify ownership and confirm that an entity is legally registered and remains in good standing.
On the other hand, notarized documents may come in handy in regulatory investigations or legal proceedings in the future. This is because it can demonstrate that compliance is taking all necessary steps to verify the authenticity of documents and client information.
What Is a “File Notarization”?
If you have been asked to have a file or document notarized, this simply means that you need to have the document verified by an authorized party. As mentioned above, the authorized party that needs to “notarize” the document is a Notary Public that has been duly authorized by the relevant jurisdiction.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few of the most common questions we receive from people looking into the meaning of notarized. If you have further questions you would like to ask our team, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
What Does “Notarized” Mean in Terms of a Document?
“Notarized” means that a document has been (or needs to be) verified by a representative of the related jurisdiction. This representative is a Notary Public. When a document is notarized, the parties signing the document, their signatures, and the fact that the document was executed freely, are verified by the Notary Public. The Notary Public then places their stamp or seal on the document, along with their signature, to officially “notarize” the document.
What Is the Meaning of the Word Notary?
The meaning of the word “Notary” is an individual who can verify documents in a specific jurisdiction. This verification includes confirming parties, and identities, and that the agreement is of free will. This person is as a Notary Public or Notary.
Why Does a Document Need to Be Notarized?
Documents need to be notarized in order to verify that the signatures are correct, the identity of the individual signing is accurate, and the document itself is authentic. This level of verification can be important, especially when providing documents from a different jurisdiction, where local authorities will not be familiar with the local document formats or verification procedures.
Who Can Notarize Documents in India?
To notarize documents in India you will need to visit a Notary Public. The Central or State government appoints a Notary Public in India. Importantly, a Notary Public is the only person in India who can officially notarize a document. In most cases, Notaries are legal professionals with at least 10 years of experience practicing law, who have the authority to verify signatures, identities, and documents.
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