someone legally empowered to witness signatures and certify a document's validity and to take depositions
"Before signing the international contract, we waited in line at the county clerk's office where the notary witnessed our signatures and certified the document's validity."
A lawyer of noncontentious private civil law who drafts, takes, and records legal instruments for private parties, and provides legal advice, but does not appear in court on his or her clients' behalf.
"The client scheduled an appointment with the local notary to have their prenuptial agreement drafted, witnessed, and officially recorded without any need for a courtroom appearance."