Kevin Wayne Williams wrote:
> 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.

I will have to look at my closing file to refresh my memory regarding
if anything was notarized.

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

Yes, the notaris of Dutch law is a part of the Latin notariat. I'd omit
the "public" at the end, because of the common law implications.

- Kevin