A notarized letter is one that you sign in front of a notary public or licensed agent of the state who witnesses signatures to confirm they're authentic. You might need a letter or other document notarized for a number of reasons: to give another party authorization to act on your behalf in medical or financial matters; to dispute a bank transaction; to grant party rights to your property or to give a relative or guardian rights over your child.
Getting a Letter Notarized
Having your letter notarized means taking it to a notary and signing it in the notary's presence. Notaries work in a number of settings, including banks, law offices, insurance companies and courthouses. Other notaries work independently and may offer mobile services, going to your office or meeting place. Some states permit licensed attorneys to notarize documents.
The notary public will ask for a copy of your driver’s license, passport or other official photo identification to confirm that you are who you say you are. He or she will log the transaction and place a stamp or seal on your letter and sign it. After the notary places the stamp and signature on the document, your letter is considered notarized.
Make sure you sign the notary in front of the notary; the notary must witness your signature.
Preparing for Notarization
Many legal documents, such as deeds and title transfers, must be notarized in order for the transaction to be properly recorded. These documents have a prescribed format, but your notarized letter or document may not. If you are having a letter or form notarized, make sure you have included all necessary information and indicate that any information not included was intentionally omitted. For example, if you have a tax form indicating you are no longer living with your spouse, you may need to enter a "N/A" for non-applicable in form blanks related to the spouse before having the form and an accompanying letter notarized.
There should be space at the bottom of the letter for the notary's stamp and for her to write the date and her name. Every state has different requirements for a notary's stamp and signature; check your state's rules and make sure to add the appropriate language and spaces at the bottom of the letter. For example, you may have language like, "Signed and sworn before me on this <blank> day of <blank>, 20<blank>" with signature lines.
Tips
A notarized letter is simply a letter that is signed before a notary public and stamped and sealed by the notary.
References
Writer Bio
Anna Green has been published in the "Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision" and has been featured regularly in "Counseling News and Notes," Keys Weekly newspapers, "Travel Host Magazine" and "Travel South." After earning degrees in political science and English, she attended law school, then earned her master's of science in mental health counseling. She is the founder of a nonprofit mental health group and personal coaching service.