Until the eighteenth century notaries would authenticate their acts with an individual sign – often extremely elaborate. At the same time the government and corporations authenticated their transactions under seal. Governments still use seals for important transations, and their regular use by companies is only now going out of fashion.
The use of seals to authenticate ‘deeds’ was the normal way of establishing their validity in the courts. Gradually, notaries adopted seals in substitution for their signs and by the nineteenth century it had become established that any notarial act should be affested by a notary’s signature supported by his individual seal. All notaries now have such a distinctive seal – often illustrated with professional or historical signs.
In addition notarial acts are prepared in established forms which can easily be understood and recognised wherever they are produced, and which may, in many jurisdictions, carry significant weight in courts and registries. Just as notaries certify documents and transactions so they in turn are certified by the legalisation process which is described elsewhere.
