A notary public’s involvement in insurance claims is limited to authentication functions, including witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and certifying documents. The notary acts as an impartial officer and does not verify the substantive accuracy or validity of the claim.
Unlike Civil Law Notaries (for example, in the PRC and parts of Europe), a Notary Public in Australia does not draft or advise on insurance claim documents. Notarial work in Australia is strictly procedural in nature.
What Notaries Do in Insurance Matters
In relation to insurance (including claims), notaries typically perform the following functions:
- Witness signatures on:
- claim forms
- affidavits / statutory declarations
- proof of loss statements
- Verify the identity of the claimant
- Administer oaths for sworn statements
- Certify copies of supporting documents
- Issue notarial certificates as evidence of execution
These functions assist to:
- prevent fraud
- support evidentiary reliability
- strengthen the enforceability of documents
Summary
In summary, a notary public plays a limited but important evidentiary role in insurance matters. The function is confined to verifying identity, witnessing execution, and certifying documents to ensure authenticity and procedural compliance. A notary does not assess, advise on, or determine the merits of an insurance claim.
strengthen the enforceability of documents