A person authorized to witness the signing of documents.
A notary public is a state-appointed person who, depending on the state, has the authority to acknowledge signatures, administer oaths and affirmations, take depositions, and issue subpoenas in court proceedings. Notaries public are frequently employed to verify signatures, particularly on court documents such as affidavits.
Although notaries public are public servants, the majority work in private enterprise and pass a state-mandated examination to become notaries public.
