For complex immigration and U.S. citizenship matters, or if you require immigration legal advice or representation, it is considered best practice to retain a qualified immigration attorney to represent you and manage your case with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). I am not an attorney, and will never provide legal advice or representation. Immigration attorneys can give you […]
Almost everywhere in the United States, a notary may rely solely on personal knowledge to identify a person appearing for a notarial act. “Personal knowledge” means the notary has reasonable certainty that the person is who he or she/they claim to be, based on the notary’s regular dealings with this person over time. In just a few states, personal knowledge […]
When executing a jurat, many notaries fail to ask signers if they prefer to swear or affirm to the truthfulness of the contents within the documents they are signing. The reason is simple: many notaries are not aware that some signers, who have religious convictions against swearing to G-d, may object to do so and prefer making a promise made […]
Notaries are often asked to “certify a copy” of a birth certificate. This misunderstanding stems from the cruise ship industry, which for years told cruise-goers that a “notarized birth certificate” was acceptable as proof of citizenship. In reality, notaries are not authorized to make certified copies of birth certificates, regardless of where the original birth certificate was issued. First, it […]
Various legal documents need to be notarized to strengthen their legitimacy, hence why it’s crucial to get the help of a notary for securing wills, affidavits, deeds to real estate, trusts, asset transfers, and other important documents. Most documents that require this extra wall of security involve legal and financial matters and include those that are easily fabricated, which is […]
Proof of loss is a legal document that explains what’s been damaged or stolen and how much money you’re claiming. Your insurer may have you fill one out, depending on the loss. Homeowners, condo and renters insurance can typically help cover personal property. Most insurance policies require that the policyholder provide a signed Proof of Loss within 60 days of […]
