Step by Step Guide to Notarizing Your Legal Documents
The first time I had to get a document notarized, I honestly did not know what I was walking into. I remember standing outside the notary’s office with my folder clutched tight, wondering if I had missed something. My stomach was doing flips, and in my head I kept repeating, “What if I mess this up?” That day, I was there to notarize a General POA. I needed to give my brother the authority to handle some personal and business matters while I was traveling. It felt serious because it was and I did not want to make a single mistake. Over time, I have had to notarize a range of documents, including a Special POA when I sold a piece of property. Each appointment taught me something new. If I could go back and coach my younger self through that first experience, this is exactly how I would explain it. Know What You Are About to Sign When I held my General POA for the first time, I skimmed it and thought, “The notary will walk me through this.” Wrong. Notaries do not explain legal documents...