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assertions and authority.
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Let's look at how a basic level of authenticity is established.
A person claiming to be John Jones asserts that
- he understands a particular document,
- he intends to sign it
- he is competent to sign it, and
- he is John Jones.
The basic grade of duly constituted public authority, in
the person of a public official, a notary, makes a type of assertion called an attestation. The notary attests that
- the person signing the document has produced satisfactory evidence that he is John Jones, or is personally known to be John Jones
- he appears to understand the document
- he is not inebriated nor is there other evidence that he is incompetent to sign the document
- there is no evidence of improper influence compelling him to sign (such as the presence of a beneficiary of the matter documented)
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