It is almost always required that any documents pertaining to the sale, purchase, or transfer of any type of real estate be notarized in order to authenticate the identity of the signer or the truthfulness of the documents’ contents.

Regardless of whether an attorney has prepared your estate planning documents, or they were self-prepared, they must be notarized. Signing in the presence of a licensed notary public deters any and all fraudulence and malpractice.

If you currently do not have any estate planning documents, please inquire as to which documents we can provide you. Our notary public will assist with document provision and preparation.

Borrowers often need to sign loan documents for a new home purchase or to refinance an existing mortgage. These documents need to be notarized in order to authenticate the identity of the signer.

A valid Power of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directive is an essential part of your life essential documents. Regardless of age, it is highly recommended to have these forms completed and notarized.

For those who are in need of a blank Power of Attorney or Advance Health Care Directive, we are more than happy to provide you with the necessary printable templates upon request.

As a licensed, insured, and bonded California notary public, Firebrand Notary Services will serve as both the signing notary and an objective witness when need be.

All notary signatures will be accompanied by the state-required seal as proof of notarization.

A certified copy is a copy of an original document, but the copy comes along with an endorsement or certificate which denotes that the copy is a true and legitimate copy of the primary document.

Certified copies are often requested for Power of Attorney documents.

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a person’s signature on a document that is to be used in another country.

An Apostille certifies:

1. The authenticity of the signature of the person who signed the document,

2. The capacity in which that person or public official acted, and

3. When appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal.

When Do You Need an Apostille:

1. When going to work in another country

2. Getting married in another country

3. Adopting children from another country

4. When giving a Power of Attorney to someone in another country

5. When establishing a business in another country

6. For Background check purposes

The purpose of an acknowledgment is for a signer, whose identity has been verified, to declare to a Notary or notarial officer that he or she has willingly signed a document.

Notary-administered acknowledgments verify the identity of the signer and validate that the document was signed willingly.

An affidavit is a sworn statement or affirmation that can be utilized to prove innocence, and or, provide clarity in the midst of a potential dispute.

These affidavits must be notarized in order to take full effect. Firebrand Notary Services provides such notarial services; including the provision of formal affidavit templates and preparation consulting.

The purpose of a jurat — also known in some states as a “verification upon oath or affirmation” — is for a signer to swear to or affirm the truthfulness of the contents of a document to a Notary or notarial officer.

Jurats are administered by Notary Publics as a means of verifying with the signer, that all of the document’s content is truthful. They are typically carried out along with a verbal oath or affirmation.

If you have any questions, or you are unsure of what services you need, click Request A Notary.