Who is a notary?

A notary is a professional intermediary between an individual and the law, authorized by the state to verify documents, certify legal acts, and safeguard the interests of the parties at the legal level.

 The primary duty of a notary is to confirm the authenticity of the parties’ will, documents, and legal facts in order to ensure that transactions are lawful and secure.

In simple terms, a notary is a legal professional who grants documents their legal validity and helps prevent potential legal disputes at the stage of their conclusion.

Contents

1. What a notary does and the role they play in the legal system
2. Main functions and duties of a notary
3. Important aspects of a notary’s work
4. State and private notaries: what is the difference?
5. If you require professional notarial assistance

What a Notary Does and Their Role in the Legal System

A notary’s work involves not only the formal execution of documents but also legal oversight of every action. Therefore, the question of what a notary does extends far beyond signatures and seals.

The scope of a notary’s activities goes well beyond the formal preparation of documents. 

A notary:
— verifies the legality of a transaction;
— establishes the identity and authority of the parties;
— assesses potential risks and legal consequences;
— records the genuine expression of will of the parties.

You may ознакомиться with the full list of notarial acts on the notarial services page.

Main Functions and Duties of a Notary

The functions and powers of a notary are regulated by law, and each notarial act carries legal consequences. Most commonly, a notary performs the following acts:

1. Certification of Contracts and Transactions
2. Administration of Inheritance Matters
3. Certification of Powers of Attorney and Signatures
4. Preparation and Certification of Wills
5. Recording of Legal Facts and Evidence
6. Safekeeping of Documents

Revocation of a power of attorney also falls within notarial practice — I have addressed this topic in detail in the article “The Role of a Notary in the Revocation of a Power of Attorney.”

Important Aspects of a Notary’s Work

A notary:

• acts impartially;
• does not represent either party;
• does not impose decisions but explains legal consequences;
• acts in the interest of the legality of the transaction;
• warns of potential future disputes.

In many cases, engaging a notary:

• eliminates legal risks at the outset;
• helps avoid court disputes;
• saves time, money, and stress.

State and Private Notaries: What Is the Difference?

Both have equal authority and differ only in the form of organization of their practice:

• A state notary works in a state notarial office and operates under a fixed schedule of official fees.
• A private notary conducts an independent practice and often handles complex transactions.

If You Require Professional Notarial Assistance

I work with individuals and their life circumstances in a way that ensures legal matters are handled calmly, clearly, and securely. I assist with transactions, inheritance matters, powers of attorney, corporate and family documents — with careful attention to detail and context.

If you have any questions or would like to understand potential risks and procedures in advance, you may schedule a consultation via the website.