• The duties of a notary public vary by jurisdiction.stamp and pad image by jovica antoski from Fotolia.com
  
  A notary is a state officer and public official sworn to duty, under oath, to perform designated official legal acts, including being a witness to signatures, administering oaths, authenticating copies of documents and attesting to signatures. The duties of a notary public vary by jurisdiction. A notary must be at least 18 years of age and must be a resident of the state in which he is applying, or occupy an office or business within that state.
  
  

Administer Oaths and Affirmations

• Every notary public has the authority to administer oaths and affirmations in all matters related to his notarial office. He is also qualified to administer oaths and affirmations for oral testimonies. If an attestation of a notary public is questioned as to its authenticity or correctness of language, a notary public may file an affidavit.
  
  

Attest and Certify to the Authenticity of Legal Documents

• One of a notary public's duties is to certify and to declare a document, with his signature and notary seal, to be true and authentic. These documents include bills of sales, mortgages and letters of attorney. In attesting a signature, the notary must determine, either from personal knowledge or from proper evidence of identity, that the signature of the person appearing before him is authentic.
  
  

Certify Acknowledgments, Affidavits and Depositions

• Notaries have the authority to take depositions and affidavits, as well as to take and receive the acknowledgment or proof of all mortgages, deeds, conveyances, or other writings related to tenements or lands. An acknowledgment is currently the most common notary duty in the United States, according to 123Notary.com.
  
  

Serve as an Official State Witness

• A notary is considered by the state to be a reliable, trustworthy and impartial witness. A notary public is a sworn public official who protects all involved parties and assists in the prevention of fraud by acting as an unbiased witness for certain documents. He acts as proof of execution by witnessing second parties sign a particular document; he also witnesses the opening of bank safe deposit boxes.
  
  

Fingerprinting Responsibilities

• There are several companies today that require job applicants to be fingerprinted as part of a background check. As a public officer, a notary public can be recognized as a certified finger-printer. A notary public is authorized to offer fingerprinting service in Live Scan (digitally scanned fingerprints) and in black ink with fingerprint cards.