You may have heard the term “attestation” when referring to notarial services? It simply means that a third party, the Notary Public, witnesses the parties to a transaction sign a document and sometimes verifies the content of the document. The Notary Public will also confirm that the person signing the document understands the content and implications of signing the document. This type of document must be signed in the presence of the Notary Public so that they can witness the signature and confirm or certify that it was properly executed (signed). You may need the services of a Notary Public to confirm documents that give you authority to do something, for example, a power of attorney authorising you to act on behalf of someone else in certain circumstances. You may even need a Notary Public to certify your identity and issue a certificate of true likeness compared to your identity documents. For example, you may need a Notary Public to certify that your academic transcript that you want to submit to an overseas university, or your birth certificate or marriage certificate is genuine. Notaries are authorised to certify that a document is valid and authentic. Notary Publics are persons authorized under the law to carry out various functions, most commonly such as the administration of oaths and affirmations, and the certification of copies of documents, especially where these documents are to be used outside of Singapore.

Notarial certificate example