accessIndiana

Indianapolis, IN - Secretary of State Todd Rokita announced today another e-government advancement in his office's Business Services Division. A new feature on Rokita's website (www.sos.IN.gov) allows customers to search the notary public database by ZIP code.

"We are continuing to provide our customers with advancements in e-government technology," Rokita said. "Our customers need to have immediate access to information 24 hours a day, and this improved notary search system is just the latest in a long line of online successes for the Secretary of State's office."

A Notary Public is a public officer of the state, authorized by law to certify documents, take affidavits, and administer oaths. A Notary Public is appointed for an eight-year term. Notarization is important as an attestation that the signature or signatures on a document have been witnessed and the parties identified by an impartial public official. Because transactions may be between virtual strangers, notarization serves to protect all parties by assuring their identities. Notaries are expected to be impartial, unbiased and without a financial interest in the agreements they notarize.

Customers in need of a notary public can search the database for a notary public in their ZIP codes. There are currently over 100,000 active notaries in Indiana.

Since taking office in 2003, Secretary Rokita has made a continued modernization of the Business Services Division a priority. Earlier this year Secretary Rokita introduced a system that allows customers to file Business Entity Reports online, which is cheaper and faster than filing in person or through the mail; last year he introduced expanded online search features to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) database.

To conduct an online notary search, go to http://www.in.gov/serv/sos_notary and search by notary name, county, ZIP code or commission number.

For Immediate Release:	Contact: Cam Savage
June 2, 2004	(317) 233-8655