Glossary
What is notarisation?
Short answer
Notarisation is when a notary public confirms who someone is, usually from government ID, watches them sign or hears them acknowledge their signature, and records it with an official seal. It is needed for documents such as some property deeds, affidavits, powers of attorney and papers used abroad. An e-signature service like Sign PDF is not notarisation: we do not offer notary services.
Updated 25 October 2026
- Notarisation
- Notarisation is the process in which a notary public, an official authorised by the state, verifies a signer's identity, witnesses or acknowledges their signature, and adds a notarial certificate and seal to the document.
What a notary does
The core job is preventing fraud. A notary checks the signer's identity, confirms they appear to understand the document and are signing willingly, and completes a notarial certificate. Common notarial acts include:
- Acknowledgement: the signer confirms a signature is theirs and made willingly
- Jurat: the signer swears or affirms that the contents are true, then signs in front of the notary
- Certified copy: the notary certifies a copy matches the original
Notaries in different countries
In the US, notaries are commissioned by each state and mostly verify identity and signatures; they do not give legal advice. In civil law countries such as France, Germany and the UAE, notaries are often legally trained and draft or authenticate important deeds.
In England and Wales, notaries are a small, regulated branch of the legal profession, used mainly for documents going abroad. Documents for use in other countries may also need an apostille under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Notarisation and electronic signatures
The ESIGN Act at 15 U.S.C. 7001(g) and UETA section 11 allow a notarisation requirement to be met electronically if the notary's electronic signature and required information are attached. That still needs a commissioned notary. A platform recording an email code and an IP address is not notarising anything.
Electronic notarisation can happen with the signer in the room (in-person electronic notarisation) or over video, which is remote online notarisation.
Sign PDF and notarisation
Sign PDF does not offer notarisation or remote online notarisation, and we do not check government ID. Our certificate of completion is evidence of an electronic signing, not a notarial certificate. If your document needs a notary, use a notary or a RON provider. For the many documents that do not, such as NDAs, offer letters and service agreements, an e-signature is enough. This is not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Is a notarised document more legally binding?
Not necessarily more binding, but harder to challenge, because a public official verified the signer's identity. Some documents cannot be filed or used without it.
Which documents usually need notarising?
Often property deeds, some powers of attorney, affidavits, and documents for use abroad. Requirements vary by country and state.
Can I get a document notarised online?
In most US states, yes, through remote online notarisation with a commissioned notary. Rules elsewhere vary.
Does Sign PDF notarise documents?
No. Sign PDF provides electronic signatures with an audit trail. For notarisation, use a notary or a RON service.
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