Kevin Gowen wrote:
> jwb@csse.monash.edu.au wrote:
>> Apud Don Kirkman <donsno2@wavecable.com> (fj.life.in-japan) hoc
>> legimus:
>> 
>>> ISTM the most common place to find a working notary is in a real
>>> estate office.
>> 
>> In Australian law there is no need for a special person to do that.
>>  Many transactions require witnesses, but anyone who is independent
>> of the transaction can witness it.
> 
> It is similar in American law. A witness (to a will, for example),
> need not be a notary public. It can be any party without an interest
> in the transaction. They are only required for certain documents,
> such as affidavits, which are signed under oath administered by the
> notary public. I bought my house several years ago but don't remember
> if anything was notarized.

In Arizona and California (the only states where I have bought and sold
homes), the paperwork filed with the county registrar must be notarized.
Probably the reason for Don's comment above.

Here, I had to deal with a "notaris", who is essentially a civil-law
notary public.

KWW