Dave Elliott, age 13, of Utica, N.Y., for his question:

WHAT IS A NOTARY PUBLIC?

A notary public is an officer who is authorized by state laws to certify certain documents, and to take oaths. Many documents must be notarized before they become legally effective. The purpose of notarizing them is to protect those who use, them from forgeries.

A notary, when he or she signs a document, certifies that the person who signed it appeared before the notary public and was personally known to him or her.

The signer of a document swears to the notary that the signature on the document is his own. The notary records that fact, and then stamps his seal on the document.

In many states, any responsible person can get a commission as a notary public, on payment of a fee. A notary is usually allowed to charge for his service.

In Canada and Great Britain, the Court of Faculties appoints notaries.