Be careful when you enter into a contract here in Statesville

Most people who have been burned by someone that they’ve entered into a contract with did so because they failed to get their agreement in writing. Others failed to get a contract attorney to review it before they signed it. It’s unlikely that any of them had a notary public witness their signatures.

Back in the past, signatures on virtually every contract had to be notarized. If it wasn’t, then it was considered to be invalid. Nowadays, only some legal agreements have to be signed in front of a notary public. The ones that most often do are real estate documents such as deeds.

Even if you aren’t required to get your signature notarized, it may be financially and legally beneficial for you to do so. It can give you an added edge in court if you do.

You should keep in mind that not just anyone can become a notary public. An individual must post a surety bond to do so. A county or state government agency has to approve someone to officially witness another person signing a document.

By having a notary public witness your signatures, it provides a potential extra layer of protection for all parties involved. Since they have to request identification (ID) to ensure that the signers are who they say that they are, it reduces the chances of someone fraudulently entering into a contract. This can ultimately save you significant legal costs on down the line.

If the notary public fails to perform their sworn duties such as checking IDs, then they can be sued for damages that result from not having done so. You’d typically be able to file suit against them through the insurance company that bonded them.

There are two things that you should remember about contracts. They should always be put in writing and an attorney should review them to make sure that they’re fair before you sign on the dotted line.

If you’d like to learn more about the steps that you can take to make sure that a contract is upheld as valid in a North Carolina courtroom, then you should reach out to an attorney in Statesville. If they have extensive experience in efficiently handling breach of contract and other business disputes, then they should also be able to help you in your legal case.