We offer free Inkless Notary Thumbprint Pads as part of your membership benefits. Notary thumbprint pads can also be purchased from various sources, including office supply stores, online notary supply companies, and specialty retailers catering to Notaries Public. When selecting a thumbprint pad, it’s important to choose one that is designed for notarial use and provides clear, legible thumbprints.
The use of a thumbprint pad for California notaries holds significant importance due to legal requirements and security measures. Here are several reasons why it’s crucial:
- Legal Requirement: California law (Government Code section 8206) mandates that notaries take the thumbprint of signers for certain real estate documents, including deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, and power of attorney documents. Failure to comply with this requirement could render the notarization invalid.
- Document Authentication: Thumbprints provide an additional layer of authentication for notarized documents. They serve as a unique identifier, making it harder for fraudsters to forge signatures or alter documents.
- Deterrence Against Fraud: The presence of a thumbprint acts as a deterrent to potential fraudsters, as they are less likely to attempt fraudulent activities if they know their thumbprint will be recorded.
- Enhanced Security: Thumbprints help to ensure the integrity and security of notarized documents by providing tangible evidence of the signer’s identity.
- Legal Protection for Notaries: In case of any disputes or legal challenges regarding the authenticity of a notarized document, the thumbprint serves as concrete evidence that the signer was present and verified by the notary at the time of notarization.
Overall, the use of a thumbprint pad is essential for California notaries to comply with legal requirements, enhance document security, deter fraud, and provide additional legal protection for both the notary and the parties involved in the transaction.