Can i witness and notarize the same document

NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call , Monday through Friday, 5 a. PST; Saturday, 5 a. View All: Hotline Tips. Notaries are not authorized to prepare legal documents such as wills for customers. In California, I understood that a Notary can be a witness and perform the notary provided the signature of the witness is not required to be notarized.

Your answer to C Ortiz. I have a friend that asked me to assist in preparing his last will. I told my friend, I can help him prepare it, but he would have to find another notary to notarize his will. I live in Nevada. Is this illegal to do? I haven't done it yet, but if it's illegal as a notary, I will decline to assist. Nonattorney Notaries may not prepare a legal document or give advice on how to fill out, draft or complete a legal document.

Paul Charles Taylor. I fail to see the point of having a witness signature if it isn't notarized. Why notarize the principal's signature, then? Yes, that's contrary to the plain language of the statute, but "Ya can't fight City Hall! I definitely disagree with the Secretary of State position. The notary is only notarizing the signature of the principal and not the signature of the witnesses in most cases.

Thus, the notary can be one of the witnesses. Robert Kaplow. Powered by Higher Logic. Once appointed, you may notarize anywhere within the State of Michigan. After you have received your commission, you are authorized to take acknowledgments, administer oaths or affirmations, and witness or attest to a signature. A notary public may not be a signature witness and notarize the same document. When a notary public takes a verification on oath or affirmation, or witnesses or attests to a signature, the individual signing the record must do so in the presence of the notary.

There is no exception to this requirement. An acknowledgment does not require that a record be signed in the notary's presence. An acknowledgment merely confirms the identity of the signer, who acknowledges that he or she signed the record.

When taking an acknowledgment, a notary public must determine that the individual appearing before the notary and making the acknowledgment is the person whose signature is on the record.