Notarizing real estate documents is a critical step in buying and selling a property. It is a legal requirement that the documents associated with the sale or transfer of real estate must be notarized to be legally binding.
What Is a Notary?
A notary is an official appointed by a government or a legal system to witness documents, administer oaths, and certify documents. A notary is considered a trusted public servant and is responsible for verifying the identity of the person signing the document, ensuring that they are aware of the contents of the document and that they understand the implications of signing the document.
Notaries are usually required for the signing of certain types of legal documents, such as wills, deeds, and contracts. Notaries may also be asked to verify the identity of someone signing a document and to make sure that the document is not being signed under duress or false pretense.
What Real Estate Documents Need to Be Notarized?
The most common real estate documents that need to be notarized are deeds, mortgages, and any other documents that involve the transfer of ownership of the real estate. The deed is a legal document that conveys ownership of a piece of property from one party to another, and it must be notarized to be valid. Mortgages are legal documents that establish the terms of the loan used to purchase real estate and need to be notarized.
In addition to deeds and mortgages, other real estate documents may need to be notarized to be valid. These documents include home sale contracts, lease agreements, and any other documents that involve the transfer of ownership of the real estate.
Who Are Allowed to Notarize Real Estate Documents?
In most states, only a licensed attorney, or a notary public, can notarize real estate documents. A notary public is a public official who is appointed by the state government to witness and authenticate the signatures of individuals on official documents. The notary public must also take an oath and verify the identity of the signer.
In some states, a title company can also notarize real estate documents. Title companies are licensed by the state government and are usually responsible for performing title searches and closing real estate transactions.
In some states, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Certified Notary Signing Agent can also notarize real estate documents. A Certified Notary Signing Agent is trained to handle the signing of real estate documents and can be appointed by a state government to serve as a public notary.
How Long Does It Take To Get Real Estate Documents Notarized?
So, how long does it take to get real estate documents notarized? In general, the process of notarizing real estate documents can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the complexity of the document and the availability of a notary.
The process of notarizing a document typically begins with the signer presenting the document to the notary. The notary will then review the document to ensure that it is complete and correct. Once the document is verified, the notary will then ask the signer to provide identification to prove their identity.
Once the notary is satisfied that the signer is who they say they are, the notary will then ask the signer to sign the document in the presence of the notary. The signer must also provide proof that they understand the contents of the document.
Once the document is signed and verified, the notary will then affix a stamp or seal to the document, certifying that the document is legally binding. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the complexity of the document and the availability of the notary.
Conclusion
Notarizing real estate documents is an important process that helps ensure the documents’ validity and the transaction. Choosing a qualified and experienced notary public to notarize your documents is important. The notary public will review the documents and ensure that all the required information is included. They will also witness the signing of the documents and administer any oaths that may be required.
If you are looking for a notary in Morgan City, LA, you can hire contact us at Angels Notary & Public Tag Service. We can make sure that your documents are all in order and ready to be submitted or filed. Get in touch with us at Angels Notary & Public Tag Service to learn more about what we can do for you.