As the signer, you must tell the Notary Public what type of notarization you require. Notaries can describe what the primary notarial acts are, but they cannot recommend one over another. It’s illegal for a Notary Public to give advice like this unless they're also a licensed attorney.

Generally, notarizations come in three basic categories or types:

• Acknowledgements – The purpose of an acknowledgement is to declare that you have willingly signed a document.

• Jurats – The purpose of a jury is for you to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true.

• Copy Certifications – The purpose of a certified copy is to have the Notary confirm the copy is an exact match of the original. The is not allowed in all states, including Tennessee.

If you find yourself unsure of the kind of notarization that you require, contact the document drafter or receiving agency to confirm what notarial act they require before your appointment with the Notary. If in doubt, it is always an great option to contact an attorney for guidance.

If you've recently changed your legal name due to marriage, divorce or other reasons, be sure that the ID you bring to the notarization matches your name shown on the document.

If there's a significant discrepancy — for example, your married name appearing on the document is "Mary Smith-Williams" but your ID contains your maiden name of "Mary Smith" — then the Notary will not be able to proceed with the notarization unless you can provide an alternate form of acceptable identification that matches the name on the document.

Generally, a document must be 100% complete for a Notary to perform a notarization. Make sure there aren't any blank spaces on your document before you meet with a Notary because that could make the document more susceptible to fraud. For example, an empty line for critical date or interest rate information on a loan document could cause serious trouble for the borrower if the information is added after the form is notarized.

Many states require Notaries to either refuse a notarization on an incomplete document or tell the customer that the document must be completed before it can be notarized. A Notary is not allowed to advise you on the legal effects of a document or fill in any part of the document except the notarial certificate wording.

One of the basic duties of a Notary is to screen document signers for willingness and awareness. That means a Notary will check that you are mentally aware and alert at the time of the notarization, and that you are signing the document voluntarily and not under duress.

While this is essential for persons of all ages, it is particularly important for the elderly or infirm. If you do not understand the details of your transaction, or you aren't sure you want to sign the paper in front of you, take steps to address these issues before going to a Notary appointment.

• State-issued driver's license

• State-issued identification card

• U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State

• U.S. military ID

• State, county and local government IDs

• Permanent resident card, or "green card," issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services*

• Foreign passport*

• Driver's license officially issued in Mexico or Canada*

• Digital driver's license*

• ID deemed acceptable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security*

• Inmate ID issued by the State Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons, if the inmate is in state or federal custody*

• Inmate ID issued by a county sheriff, if the inmate is in the custody of the county sheriff*

A signer must meet face-to-face with a Notary in order to have their signature notarized. Be sure that any person whose signature needs notarization is available and can attend your appointment with the Notary Public.

A Notary cannot notarize a person's signature over the phone or video chat. That said, several states do allow you to get documents notarized by using secure online remote notarization service providers like NotaryCam,* Notarize, and DocVerify.