Can A Notary Witness And Notarize, Too?

Great article written By NNA Staff on May 07, 2019 

When a document requires two witnesses and notarization, can the Notary act as one of the witnesses as well as notarize? — D.M., Pennsylvania

It is not recommended and may even be improper. For example, if a Notary witnessed the signing of a last will and was asked to sign an affidavit to make the will “self-proving,” it would be highly improper for the Notary to notarize his or her signature as a witness on the self-proving affidavit. The NNA always recommends that in cases in which a document must be witnessed and notarized, the Notary serve as either a witness or Notary, but not both.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

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