A Notary Public serves in cases involving affidavits, statutory declarations, powers-of-attorney, estates, and/or business and real estate transactions. A notary can administer oaths and affirmations, take affidavits and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate the execution of certain documents, and certify true copies.
A Notary can be helpful when you need to authenticate a document, to make an oath or a solemn affirmation as to the truthfulness of a statement or document such as an affidavit, to execute paperwork for an estate, a deed, or a trust, or to complete a business transaction or a sale of real estate.
A Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public must witness and properly administer an oath or affirmation in order for any document used for court cases or other legal proceedings to be admitted as evidence.
A Commissioner for Oaths is much more limited in his/her powers, but is still entitled to take affidavits and statutory declarations, with the required oaths and/or declarations. Commissioners do not affix a notarial seal to documents.