A notary is an impartial witness to the signing or authentication of a legal document. A notary’s main job is to confirm people’s identities so that they know who they are dealing with before any transactions occur. There is no cost for this service, but a fee may be charged if the document signed requires a seal or stamp and the signer requests it from the notary. Notaries do not give legal advice, but if a signer asks for help, they can provide some information as long as it is within the scope of their services. Before you sign any documents, ensure you have a complete understanding of what you are signing and verify that your notary public is competent to perform their duties.