We’re so much more than an office supply store and photo printing company here at Flash Photo. Did you know that we also offer notary services? If you need a notary to witness and verify signatures on an official document, you can come to us! The most common documents that require a notary are wills, powers of attorney, and bills of sale. However, there are a few circumstances you might not expect.
Some unusual circumstances require notarized documents. Here are three of the weirdest situations when you need a notary.
Pet Adoption or Transfer of Ownership
Adopting or transferring ownership of a pet often requires notarization. If the pet in question is considered a “valuable asset” or part of an estate, its legal ownership may be disputed, and notarization will clarify who owns it. Ordinary pets like cats or dogs are rarely at the center of these disputes. They are more likely to involve exotic or valuable pets, such as racehorses. Although we often think of pets as family members, they are legally property, and notarizing a transfer of ownership ensures they end up in the correct home.
Affidavit for Haunted Property
This situation technically doesn’t apply in New Hampshire, but it was too weird to leave off the list. If you are selling a house with a reputation for being haunted, you have to disclose that information in the states of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota. In some cases, you might need a notary to confirm the seller made the disclosure in good faith. Most of the time, a verbal disclosure between the buyer and seller is sufficient. However, in 1991, a buyer in Nyack, New York, took a seller to court for failing to disclose that the house was haunted. The judge sided with the buyer and allowed them to rescind their offer.
Time Capsule or Personal Legacy Documents
Some people take their legacy or personal history very seriously. If that sounds like you, you can choose to create legal, notarized documents to seal in a time capsule to open at a future date—sometimes decades later. The notarized documents might include detailed instructions on what to do with the items in the capsule or how to share certain details of your family history. While it’s not a typical notary function, if you’re creating a legal document to be opened in the far future, you might use a notary to certify its authenticity at the time it’s sealed, ensuring no tampering occurs in the years to come.
