Notary Dictionary
Search the Dictionary below.
A
Acknowledgment: A notarial act that involves the notary verifying the identity of the person signing a document and ensuring that they are signing it voluntarily.
Affiant: A person who makes a sworn statement or affidavit.
Affidavit: A written statement made under oath or affirmation that is used as evidence in legal proceedings.
Apostille: A certification issued by the Secretary of State that verifies the authenticity of a document for use in a foreign country.
Attestation: The act of witnessing the signing of a document by a notary public or other authorized official.
Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of a person signing a document or the authenticity of a document.
B
Borrower: The person who borrows money from a lender and agrees to repay it.
Business entity: A legal entity created for the purpose of conducting business activities.
C
Certificate of authority: A document issued by a government agency that gives a business entity the authority to operate in a particular state.
Certificate of title: A legal document that proves ownership of a particular asset, such as a car or property.
Certify: To attest to the validity of a document or signature by affixing a notarial seal.
Commission: The appointment of a notary public by a state government.
D
Deed: A legal document that transfers ownership of real property from one party to another.
Deponent: A person who makes a sworn statement or deposition.
Deposition: A sworn statement made under oath or affirmation that is recorded and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings.
E
Electronic Notary: A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts electronically.
Electronic Signature: A signature that is made using electronic means, such as a computer or mobile device.
Embosser: A tool used by notaries to impress a raised seal onto a document.
Escrow: A process where a third party holds and manages funds or documents until specific conditions are met.
Executor: A person named in a will to carry out the deceased person's wishes.
F
Fiduciary: A person or entity that is responsible for managing assets or property on behalf of someone else.
Foreclosure: The process by which a lender takes possession of a property when the borrower fails to make payments on a mortgage or loan.
G
Grantor: The person who transfers ownership of property to another person or entity.
Guardian: A person appointed by a court to make decisions on behalf of someone who is unable to make decisions for themselves.
H
Homestead: A property that is protected from creditors and cannot be sold to satisfy debts.
Holographic will: A will that is entirely handwritten and signed by the testator.
I
Identity verification: The process of verifying that a person is who they claim to be, typically through the use of government-issued identification.
Impartial Witness: A witness who has no interest in the outcome of a transaction or event.
Incompetent: A person who lacks the legal capacity to make decisions for themselves.
Inheritance: Property or assets that are passed down from one generation to another after a person's death.
Instrument: A written document that creates, modifies, or transfers an interest in property or a legal right.
Intestate: A person who dies without a valid will.
J
Judgment: The official decision of a court in a legal case
Jurat: A written certificate attached to a document attesting to the fact that it was sworn to before a notary public.
Jurisdiction: The geographic area or legal authority in which a court or other legal entity has the power to make decisions.
K
Kin: Relatives or family members of an individual.
Knowledge-based authentication: A form of identity verification that involves asking questions that only the person being verified would know the answer to.
L
Lien: A legal claim against property as security for a debt or obligation.
Loan: Money borrowed from a lender that is repaid with interest over time.
M
Mortgage: A loan used to purchase real property, where the property serves as collateral for the loan.
Notary public: A public official who is authorized to perform notarial acts.
N
Notarial act: An official act performed by a notary, such as taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath or affirmation.
Notarial Certificate: A written statement by a notary public attesting to the facts surrounding a notarial act.
Notary Public: A public official authorized to witness and attest to the signing of legal documents.
Notary signing agent: A notary who is specially trained to handle loan signings and other real estate transactions.
O
Oath: A solemn promise to tell the truth, made under penalty of perjury.
Power of attorney: A legal document that grants someone else the authority to act on behalf of the person who created the document.
P
Personal Property: Any property that is not real property, such as furniture, vehicles, or personal belongings.
Personal Representative: A person appointed by a court to handle the affairs of a deceased person.
Plaintiff: The party who initiates a lawsuit in a court of law.
Power of Attorney: A legal document that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf.
Preparer: A person who assists in the preparation of legal documents.
Principal: The person who gives another person authority to act on their behalf.
Protest: A formal declaration by a notary public of the non-payment or non-acceptance of a negotiable instrument.
Q
Qualified Witness: A witness who can attest to the identity of a signer.
Quiet title: A legal action taken to establish clear and unencumbered ownership of real
Quitclaim deed: A legal document used to transfer ownership of real property, where the grantor makes no guarantees about the title to the property.
R
Real property: Property that includes land and anything attached to it, such as buildings or natural resources.
Record Book: A book maintained by a notary public to record all notarial acts performed.
Referee: A person appointed by a court to hear and determine certain matters.
Remote Online Notary (RON): A notary public who is authorized to perform notarial acts using audio-visual technology to communicate with signers who are located remotely from the notary.
Rescission: The cancellation or revocation of a contract, often due to a breach of contract or fraud.
S
Satisfactory Evidence: Proof of a signer's identity that meets the requirements of state law.
Seal: A device used by a notary to affix their official mark to a document, indicating that it has been notarized.
Signer: The person who signs a document that requires notarization.
T
Testamentary: Relating to a will or testament.
Title: A legal document that proves ownership of a particular asset, such as a property or vehicle.
U
Undivided interest: A share of ownership in a property that is not divided into specific parts, but rather shared by multiple owners.
Usury: The practice of charging excessive interest rates on loans, which is illegal in many jurisdictions.
V
Venue: The geographic location where a legal case or transaction takes place.
Verification: The process of confirming the truth or accuracy of a statement, often used in conjunction with identity verification.
W
Witness: A person who observes the signing of a document and can testify to its validity.
Will: A legal document that outlines how a person's property and assets should be distributed after their death.
X
None
Y
None
Z
None
Acknowledgment: A notarial act that involves the notary verifying the identity of the person signing a document and ensuring that they are signing it voluntarily.
Affiant: A person who makes a sworn statement or affidavit.
Affidavit: A written statement made under oath or affirmation that is used as evidence in legal proceedings.
Apostille: A certification issued by the Secretary of State that verifies the authenticity of a document for use in a foreign country.
Attestation: The act of witnessing the signing of a document by a notary public or other authorized official.
Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of a person signing a document or the authenticity of a document.
B
Borrower: The person who borrows money from a lender and agrees to repay it.
Business entity: A legal entity created for the purpose of conducting business activities.
C
Certificate of authority: A document issued by a government agency that gives a business entity the authority to operate in a particular state.
Certificate of title: A legal document that proves ownership of a particular asset, such as a car or property.
Certify: To attest to the validity of a document or signature by affixing a notarial seal.
Commission: The appointment of a notary public by a state government.
D
Deed: A legal document that transfers ownership of real property from one party to another.
Deponent: A person who makes a sworn statement or deposition.
Deposition: A sworn statement made under oath or affirmation that is recorded and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings.
E
Electronic Notary: A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts electronically.
Electronic Signature: A signature that is made using electronic means, such as a computer or mobile device.
Embosser: A tool used by notaries to impress a raised seal onto a document.
Escrow: A process where a third party holds and manages funds or documents until specific conditions are met.
Executor: A person named in a will to carry out the deceased person's wishes.
F
Fiduciary: A person or entity that is responsible for managing assets or property on behalf of someone else.
Foreclosure: The process by which a lender takes possession of a property when the borrower fails to make payments on a mortgage or loan.
G
Grantor: The person who transfers ownership of property to another person or entity.
Guardian: A person appointed by a court to make decisions on behalf of someone who is unable to make decisions for themselves.
H
Homestead: A property that is protected from creditors and cannot be sold to satisfy debts.
Holographic will: A will that is entirely handwritten and signed by the testator.
I
Identity verification: The process of verifying that a person is who they claim to be, typically through the use of government-issued identification.
Impartial Witness: A witness who has no interest in the outcome of a transaction or event.
Incompetent: A person who lacks the legal capacity to make decisions for themselves.
Inheritance: Property or assets that are passed down from one generation to another after a person's death.
Instrument: A written document that creates, modifies, or transfers an interest in property or a legal right.
Intestate: A person who dies without a valid will.
J
Judgment: The official decision of a court in a legal case
Jurat: A written certificate attached to a document attesting to the fact that it was sworn to before a notary public.
Jurisdiction: The geographic area or legal authority in which a court or other legal entity has the power to make decisions.
K
Kin: Relatives or family members of an individual.
Knowledge-based authentication: A form of identity verification that involves asking questions that only the person being verified would know the answer to.
L
Lien: A legal claim against property as security for a debt or obligation.
Loan: Money borrowed from a lender that is repaid with interest over time.
M
Mortgage: A loan used to purchase real property, where the property serves as collateral for the loan.
Notary public: A public official who is authorized to perform notarial acts.
N
Notarial act: An official act performed by a notary, such as taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath or affirmation.
Notarial Certificate: A written statement by a notary public attesting to the facts surrounding a notarial act.
Notary Public: A public official authorized to witness and attest to the signing of legal documents.
Notary signing agent: A notary who is specially trained to handle loan signings and other real estate transactions.
O
Oath: A solemn promise to tell the truth, made under penalty of perjury.
Power of attorney: A legal document that grants someone else the authority to act on behalf of the person who created the document.
P
Personal Property: Any property that is not real property, such as furniture, vehicles, or personal belongings.
Personal Representative: A person appointed by a court to handle the affairs of a deceased person.
Plaintiff: The party who initiates a lawsuit in a court of law.
Power of Attorney: A legal document that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf.
Preparer: A person who assists in the preparation of legal documents.
Principal: The person who gives another person authority to act on their behalf.
Protest: A formal declaration by a notary public of the non-payment or non-acceptance of a negotiable instrument.
Q
Qualified Witness: A witness who can attest to the identity of a signer.
Quiet title: A legal action taken to establish clear and unencumbered ownership of real
Quitclaim deed: A legal document used to transfer ownership of real property, where the grantor makes no guarantees about the title to the property.
R
Real property: Property that includes land and anything attached to it, such as buildings or natural resources.
Record Book: A book maintained by a notary public to record all notarial acts performed.
Referee: A person appointed by a court to hear and determine certain matters.
Remote Online Notary (RON): A notary public who is authorized to perform notarial acts using audio-visual technology to communicate with signers who are located remotely from the notary.
Rescission: The cancellation or revocation of a contract, often due to a breach of contract or fraud.
S
Satisfactory Evidence: Proof of a signer's identity that meets the requirements of state law.
Seal: A device used by a notary to affix their official mark to a document, indicating that it has been notarized.
Signer: The person who signs a document that requires notarization.
T
Testamentary: Relating to a will or testament.
Title: A legal document that proves ownership of a particular asset, such as a property or vehicle.
U
Undivided interest: A share of ownership in a property that is not divided into specific parts, but rather shared by multiple owners.
Usury: The practice of charging excessive interest rates on loans, which is illegal in many jurisdictions.
V
Venue: The geographic location where a legal case or transaction takes place.
Verification: The process of confirming the truth or accuracy of a statement, often used in conjunction with identity verification.
W
Witness: A person who observes the signing of a document and can testify to its validity.
Will: A legal document that outlines how a person's property and assets should be distributed after their death.
X
None
Y
None
Z
None