What is the primary purpose of a notary public?

A notary public is a state-commissioned official who serves as an impartial, neutral witness to the signing of important documents. The notary's core duties are: (1) verifying the signer's identity through reasonable means; (2) confirming the signer's willingness (free of duress or coercion); (3) confirming the signer's awareness of the document being signed (basic mental capacity); (4) administering oaths and affirmations when required; (5) completing a notarial certificate that formally records the act. Notaries are NOT attorneys (unless separately licensed) and cannot give legal advice, draft legal documents, or represent clients. The role's fundamental purpose is fraud deterrence: by requiring an impartial third party to witness signing with proper identification, the system makes document forgery and impersonation much harder. The notary's commission is granted by the state and carries legal authority — and corresponding responsibility.