Do not fall victim to fake notaries!

A notarial act is vested with public interest.

Parties who execute a document, which requires notarization, must appear and sign the document before the notary public. Thus, a buyer and seller of a motor vehicle, for example, must both appear before the Notary Public if they want their Deed of Sale validly notarized.

The parties must also either be personally known to the notary public or identified by competent evidence of identity (usually a government issued ID).

A notary public, who must be a lawyer, is required to affix his/her own signature in the notarial act performed.

Source: 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice and LEDESMA D. SANCHEZ, COMPLAINANT, VS. ATTY. CARLITO R. INTON, RESPONDENT. (A.C. No. 12455, November 05, 2019)