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What is a Notary Public?
A notary public is a public official who is authorized by the government to perform certain functions, primarily related to the authentication and certification of documents and signatures. The main role of a notary public is to act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to verify the identity and willingness of the parties involved in the transaction.
Notaries public are commonly appointed by state or regional governments and have the authority to administer oaths, affirmations, and acknowledgments, and to attest or certify documents with their official seal or stamp. The specific powers and responsibilities of a notary public may vary depending on the jurisdiction, but generally, they can perform the following functions:
Notarizing documents: A notary public can notarize various types of documents, such as contracts, affidavits, deeds, powers of attorney, and other legal documents. This involves verifying the identity of the signers, ensuring they are signing willingly and knowingly, and attaching their official seal or stamp to the document.
Administering oaths and affirmations: A notary public can administer oaths or affirmations to individuals who need to make a sworn statement or provide testimony under penalty of perjury.
Certifying copies of documents: A notary public can certify that a copy of an original document is true and accurate, typically by comparing the copy to the original and affixing their seal or stamp.
Authenticating signatures: A notary public can verify the authenticity of signatures on a document, either by witnessing the signing in person or by comparing the signature on a document to a known signature in their records.
It's important to note that notaries public are bound by specific laws and regulations, and their duties and powers may be limited to their jurisdiction. They are expected to act with impartiality and integrity and must follow the applicable laws and regulations governing notarial acts. Notary public services can be useful in various legal, financial, and business transactions to ensure the authenticity and legality of documents and protect the interests of the parties involved.
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melissa@trifectamobilenotary.com
The Power of Estate Planning
Have you thought about your estate planning documents? Do you know what they are? Most importantly, are you aware of the crucial role they play in protecting yourself and your loved ones? If not, that's ok. Let me tell you a story.
Estate documents are considered a Power of attorney (which can be broken down further into Durable and Healthcare), A Living Will, Last Will and Testament, a Living Trust, and HIPPA Authorization.
A few years ago I ran into a very difficult situation with my elderly parents, both of whom were ill. My mother had terminal cancer and was entering hospice, while simultaneously, my father had a medical emergency that required a lengthy hospital stay and surgery. For months I had asked them to get a Durable Power of Attorney in place so I could operate on their behalf, medically or financially, if the need arose. They kept pushing it off until I was forced to handle it in the middle of a very chaotic time. I think dealing with illness was already daunting and having to search for and pay lawyer fees was too overwhelming for them at the time. A Power of Attorney allows an appointed person to act on another's behalf if they are alive but incapacitated in some way, i.e., coma, advanced illness, ect. Thank goodness for the hospital case worker who told me about Rocket Lawyer! I didn't have time to locate and wait for an appointment with estate lawyer and with all the medical bills piling up there wasn't a big budget for these necessary documents.
I went to Rocket Lawyer, created an account, and drew up the legally binding, state specific Powers of Attorney for both parents the next afternoon for a small monthly fee. The site walks you through every part of the documents in a clear, easy to understand way. If there is something that requires further clarification, there are lawyers you can chat online with in real time. I was shocked and relieved by how easy and inexpensive the process was. I printed out the documents and contacted a friend and notary who provided mobile services. The next day I submitted the documents to my parents' banks for review, as well as to my their hospital teams and individual doctors. The bank and all medical staff approved me as the Attorney-in-fact for both my parents within 24 hours. An enormous burden lifted!
I'd love to prevent anyone else from being in the same situation my parents and I found ourselves in. I recommend Rocket Lawyer because I had a very positive personal experience with them but there are other online legal sites that provide similar services. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Take care of those documents asap. We now live in a time where we can do them from the comfort of our home with ease and without spending an arm and a leg!
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