❓What is a Notary❓

When I announced to friends that I wanted to become a Notary, the most common response was "what is a Notary?"

A Notary, listed in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as Notary Public, is "a public officer who attests or certifies writings (such as a deed) to make them authentic and takes affidavits, depositions, and protests of negotiable paper". They are considered an official to the state in which they are commissioned and they must follow the laws and guidelines set aside by the state. 

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the powers given to a Notary are:
📍 Taking acknowledgments
📍 Administering oaths and affirmations
📍 Certifying affidavits or depositions
📍 Certifying “true copies” of documents
📍 Verification of fact

Sites that I utilize that provide insights and that are great resources are:
National Notary Association: www.nationalnotary.org
American Association of Notaries: www.notarypublicstamps.com
Virginia Association of Notaries: www.vanotaryassoc.org