So what is a Notary Public and why do I need one?

A notary public is an official, appointed by the Secretary of State, to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official acts related to the signing of important documents. Laws concerning notaries public are set forth in the California Government Code (GOV 8200-8230).

A notary public screens signers of official documents to establish their true identity, their awareness of the contents of the official transaction or document, and their willingness to sign without intimidation.