Notary
Also called: notary public, notarisation
A legal practitioner appointed by the Central or a State government to authenticate documents, verify signatures, administer oaths and certify copies. Notarisation does not replace registration.
A notary (notary public) is appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952, by the Central government or a State government. People go to a notary to have an affidavit sworn, a signature verified, a copy certified, or a document authenticated for use in India or abroad.
What a notary can do
Section 8 of the Notaries Act, 1952 lists a notary's functions, including verifying, authenticating, certifying or attesting the execution of any instrument, administering oaths and taking affidavits, and certifying copies. Each act is recorded in the notary's register, and the notary affixes a seal and, where required, a notarial stamp.
What notarisation does not do
- It does not register a document. A sale deed, gift deed or a lease of more than a year must be registered with the Sub-Registrar.
- It does not pay stamp duty; the correct stamp duty is still due.
- It does not make a statement true; it only records that you made it before the notary.
Common mistake
A notarised agreement to sell or a notarised power of attorney is often wrongly treated as proof of ownership of property. It is not.
Documents such as an affidavit of identity or an undertaking letter are often notarised. For documents to be used abroad, see apostille.
Checked against the sources below on 7 November 2026 IST. General information about Indian law, not legal advice for your case.
Documents that use this term
Guides that explain more
- Affidavits in India: When You Actually Need One, and How to Get the Format Right
An affidavit is one of the most frequently required documents in India, for everything from a name change to a court filing, and one of the easiest to get rejected on a technicality.