Documents You Need a Notary for When Buying a Home in 2026

“Fraudsters Are Stealing Land Out from Under Owners.”

This was the headline of an FBI news report from Newark, New Jersey, in May 2024. The news report went on to outline the rise of deed fraud in the United States.

Deed Fraud is a form of scam activity involving the use of invalid deeds with false information, and the vendor’s signature is used to convey ownership in real estate to an unsuspecting buyer who signs the contract in good faith, unaware that they have likely been scammed.

With the surge in real estate fraud and prevalence of fake deeds in America, there has never been a better time to notarize your real estate documents than today.

So, if you are new to this business of notarizing your documents, your first question might be, “What documents do I need to notarize while purchasing a property?”

Let’s discuss this below: 

Documents to Notarize While Purchasing a Property 

It is important to notarize a document before purchasing a property. This lends credibility to the purchase process and protects the buyer from real estate fraud. Furthermore, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act), 15 U.S.C. § 7001(g), covers the validity of an electronic signature by a notary public.

Many other states, such as Texas, Virginia, Florida, New York, and Illinois, authorize the use of notary signatures, physically or electronically, to authenticate real estate documents. Here are the key documents typically notarised during a home purchase:  

1. 1. Deed of Trust. A deed of trust secures the lender’s interest in a property and is required for mortgaged transactions. Notarization verifies the authenticity of the borrower’s signature, among others. 
   2. Deed (Warranty Deed or Quitclaim Deed). Notarization is an absolute necessity for transactions involving a quitclaim deed because ownership transfers without warranties. 
   3. Occupancy Affidavit. An occupancy Affidavit states whether the buyer will live in the property after purchase. It is required by lenders to determine loan terms. 
   4. Identity or Signature Affidavit. This is important as it confirms the signature of both parties. Think of it as authenticating the document, which authenticates the signatures. 
   5. Power of Attorney for Real Estate. Notarization authenticates the presence of a third party to act on behalf of a party in the transaction. It saves the other party from third-party transaction fraud. 
   6. Spousal Consent or Homestead Documents. It confirms that the spousal consent is genuine in a real estate transaction involving family or joint ownership by a married couple. 
   7. Closing Disclosure or Settlement Affidavits. This is important as it authenticates the accuracy of financial information and disclosures. 
   8. Correction Affidavit. A correction affidavit fixes errors after closing, such as name spelling or legal description. Notarisation ensures the correction is legitimate.

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, and notarisation plays a quiet but critical role in protecting that investment.

From deeds to affidavits, having the right real estate documents properly notarised reduces fraud risk, supports recording, and ensures your ownership is legally recognised. Before your next closing, take the time to confirm which documents require a notary.

A prepared buyer is not only informed but protected. Looking to hire a mobile notary? Contact lookingglassrunners.com today.