Why You Should Get Your Contract Notarized

You entered into a contract with a local service provider, and they disappeared on the day the service was ought to be provided. Angry at and frustrated by the company’s behavior, you call and threaten to take them to court. But from the other side of the phone, you heard a snarky laugh which gave you the impression that the service provider didn’t regard the contract as a legally binding document.

Unfortunately, the hypothetical scenario described above is quite common across the world. Many people are guilty of breaking the contract and then wriggling their way out. Even though a signed contract is legally binding, it is always beneficial to get your documents notarized.

Which Documents Should Be Notarized?

The notarization is not limited to a specific document type. The notary stamp verifies that the signatures on the document are, in fact, of the parties concerned. While it is preferable to notarize all important documents, the following are some documents whose notarization is mandatory under the law:

• Wills
• Debt agreements
• Real estate leases for a period over one year
• Real estate contracts
• Trusts
• Medical releases
• Real property deed

How Does Notarization Help You in Court?

Court cases are quite common in the business world to such an extent that business owners don’t even stress over it. In fact, they are always prepared to deal with a contractual dispute. Among the many steps that business owners can take to protect their business, the simplest is having all contracts signed by a notary.

The signatures that are on a contract are authenticated in federal courts because of which there is no doubt about their validity. This is perhaps the most convenient way for businesses to protect their companies and save time and money unnecessarily spent on frivolous – albeit time-consuming – lawsuits.

A Credible Witness

You might wonder why it is necessary to get your contract notarized when you can easily sign them in the presence of witnesses. These witnesses, you believe, will help you in case of a contractual dispute. Even though there is no flaw in this thinking, there is one technical difference between witnesses and a notary that gives more power to the latter in court. Witnesses are simply third parties that are present in the room – where you are entering into a contract – and watch you sign the contract. On the other hand, a notary stamps a document that is signed in their presence and sign it to ensure that the document is indeed binding.  

Summary

If you are running a business, you can well understand how frustrating it is to see a party breaking the contract. In such cases, you really want to have an authentic and reliable document that you can use in the court of law. In some states, you are bound by the law to get your documents notarized. However, in places where there is no such restriction, you should still consider opting for notarization that can help you in a contractual dispute.