NOTARY PUBLIC – WHAT, WHY, WHERE, WHO, & SOMETIMES HOW

“Go with me to a notary; seal me there…” Shakespeare, from The Merchant of Venice. Many people have heard the word “notary,” but what does it mean? A notary public in the State of Indiana is an individual commissioned by the State of Indiana to serve as an impartial witness for legally significant documents such as wills, property deeds, marriage licenses, and adoption papers.

Why are notaries necessary?

The intent of using notaries is to deter fraud in the execution and implementation of legally binding and important documents. Notaries help to ensure that documents are accurate, appropriate, and understood by those who sign them. The Merchant of Venice reminds notaries to be ever diligent and look for improper wording in documents, or there never would have been a Merchant in Venice.

Where did the notary public come from?

Well, in good fashion, all the roads lead to Rome: Notary comes from the Latin term nota. Nota was a system of shorthand created by Cicero’s clerk, Tullius Tiro, who transcribed all of his speeches. Today, you can find a notary in some unlikely-seeming places: hospitals, UPS offices, the United States Postal Service office, real estate brokers, banks, and of course, law offices.

Who is a notary public?

Notary publics are considered public officers, as they hold commissions by the Governor, with assistance from the Secretary of State. Notaries go through training dictated by the State they wish to license with. This can be in person or online, and often is a few hours in length. Notaries in Indiana are required to be licensed and carry bond insurance, to protect all that they notarize. The requirements for a notary in Indiana are: (1) be at least 18 years old; (2) be a resident of the state of Indiana or primarily employed in the state; (3) Not be disqualified to receive a commission under IC 33-4-13 and IC 5-8-3-1, IC 33-4-13, like a conviction or civil ruling involving deceit, dishonesty or fraud, or IC 5-8-3-1, a conviction where the sentence imposed exceeded six (6) months.

How do you find a notary?

A simple Google search can show you the notary nearest to you. Here at Finderson Law, we want to make it simple and easy for our clients. Our notaries are the same team that helps you with every step of your case! See our staff page to see which of our teammates are licensed in the State of Indiana.

Statistics and items of interest: 

• The National Notary Association takes regular censuses to see how many notaries there currently are.  
• National Notary Public Day is November 7^th. Maybe get writing to celebrate!
• 75.0% of all notary publics are women, while 25.0% are men.
• The average notary public age is 42 years old. 
• In 2022, women earned 89% of what men earned.
• Notary publics are 52% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.

Notary publics are licensed public officers who help prevent fraud and protect the important documents in our day-to-day life. Notaries date back to Ancient Rome and feature heavily in reality, literature, and Finderson Law.

Resources on notaries:

https://www.zippia.com/notary-public-jobs/demographics/

https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2022/08/2022-nna-notary-census-part-2-4-4-million-u-s-notaries-are-adapting-to-serve-the-nation-today#:~:text=While%20the%20number%20of%20Notaries,available%20to%20meet%20their%20needs.

https://inbiz.in.gov/certification/notary