Notary Services

Notary Services Overview

We all can agree that dealing with legal and financial paperwork isn't exactly how most people want to spend their afternoon. And, that’s the purpose of the following information—a serious, though straightforward, look at the truth about notarizing documents and why having a trusted professional handle it is important to you.

First-of-all, let’s cover one simple truth right away … Notarization is primarily about fraud prevention and proving that the people signing a critical document are exactly who they say they are. But, having your financial advisor’s office handle your notary needs can provide so much more than just a literal stamp of approval; in fact, it ensures that your wealth transfers, trust documents, and critical life directives are legally sound and executed correctly without having to run across town to a third party.

Navigating estate planning and financial documentation can be very confusing, particularly today, because there are so many legal hoops to jump through. If you have ever considered, “Why do I even need to get this piece of paper notarized?” the simple and best answer is “Because an un-notarized legal document is often just a worthless piece of paper when you actually need it.” That may sound a bit blunt, but when it comes to protecting your legacy and assets, it is really the solid truth!

However, most Americans have many, many other questions bouncing around in their minds when they are handed a stack of documents requiring an official seal. Here are a few of those important questions:

“What types of documents actually require a notary?” “What forms of ID do I need to bring with me to my appointment?” “Can you notarize a document if I have already signed it at home?” “How do these notarized documents fit into my broader financial and estate plan?”