A document witness is an individual who watches another individual sign a document. Usually, state law specifies when a document witness is required.
⚠️ The witnessing of a signature on a document in this context is not considered a notarization and is not an official notarial act.
Read Witnesses on the Proof platform for more information about types of witnesses.
Read Witness guidelines for signers for information about finding your own witness. Proof does not provide any legal advice, including advice about witness requirements.
Who this is for
The information and/or process below applies to all users on the Proof platform.
Examples of situations that require a document witness
- In some states, a deed or mortgage related to real property must have witnesses present when someone signs before it can be recorded.
- In many jurisdictions, powers of attorney may require one or more witnesses to be present at the signing. Witnesses typically sign the document as well.
Witnesses to these documents are typically not notaries — they are usually private individuals. In certain cases, notaries can serve as document witnesses in addition to notarizing a document.
⚠️ Some states expressly prohibit notaries from serving as a document witness while simultaneously notarizing the document.
Document witnesses are not typically required to validate their identity on the Proof platform. However, notaries may be required to confirm the age and/or ID of a document witness if instructed to do so by either of the following:
- The organization that created the transaction.
- Regulations of the state in which the notary is commissioned.
Witnesses can observe the execution of a document by a person who is in the physical presence of the witness. Witnesses can also be remote; the On-Demand Witness feature allows organizations to call up to two (2) on-demand witnesses from the Notarize Network.