> You are reading the Docusign Developer Documentation. For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > > Documentation indexes by section: > - APIs and SDKs: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/docs/llms.txt > - Platform 101: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/platform/llms.txt > - Extension Apps: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/extension-apps/llms.txt > - Docusign CLI: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/docusign-cli/llms.txt > > Authentication (OAuth, JWT Grant, M2M): https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/platform/auth > Webhooks and Connect: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/platform/webhooks > > OpenAPI specifications: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/openapi.json > MCP server: https://docusign.docs.buildwithfern.com/_mcp/server # Notary API 101 > Learn how to start working with the Notary API. The Docusign Notary API enables you to have your documents notarized remotely online for all parties involved by having a notary public act as an in-person (online) witness to the electronic signing. To do this, you invite notaries to your organization’s [notary pool](/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/notary-pool) (which lists them for easy inclusion in witnessing and [journaling](/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/journaling) tasks later), then create an envelope with the notary as a recipient of type `notaries`. Documents whose signing has been witnessed by a notary public are *notarized*, and are confirmed to be authentic, true and voluntarily drafted. The Docusign Notary API is available in more than a dozen U.S. states, including Washington, Texas, and Florida. Notaries commissioned in [available states](/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/jurisdiction) should use Docusign eNotary while following state-specific requirements for notarial acts. **Note:** The Notary API encompasses a set of services that complement existing [Docusign eSignature functionality](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101). To use the full range of the Notary API’s capabilities, you will need to make requests to both the eSignature REST API and the Notary API. **Note:** You can use Docusign Admin to manage your organization’s notary pool and notary group activity, but Docusign Admin is not required to use the Notary API. ## Features The Notary API offers several features to support notary functionality and to help notaries with their work, including: * **Notary pools:** Each organization that uses the Notary API has a list of notaries that can be easily included to witness signing, called a *notary pool*. * **Journaling:** Notaries are typically required to maintain a record of their official actions. The Notary API enables notaries to create journal entries for recording the actions of a notary session. These journal entries are saved and archived for your organization. * **Jurisdictions:** The Notary API tracks the jurisdiction (such as a state) in which each notary session is completed. The API also supports (but does not enforce) jurisdictional requirements for these states, such as using digital signatures or notarial seals. ## Enabling the Notary API for your account Developers interested in adding Notary API functionality to your account, contact your Docusign representative. Once Notary has been activated for your account, the Notary sections will be visible and available for your organization in Docusign Admin and the web app. ## Walkthrough video The following video gives a detailed overview of the Notary API, its features, and some patterns for implementing Notary functionality. #### [Notary concepts](/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts) Learn about the Notary API, including API functionality and key terms. #### [Notary API authentication](/docs/notary-api/notary101/auth) See which scopes are required to use Notary API. #### [How-to guides](/docs/notary-api/how-to) Explore how-to guides demonstrating how to use the API to send documents for notarization. #### [Notary API reference](/docs/notary-api/reference) Delve into API methods with the complete reference to Notary API calls. > Learn how to start working with the Notary API. ## Docs - [Notary concepts](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts.md): Learn about concepts used by the Notary API, such as notary pools and journaling. - [Notary pool](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/notary-pool.md): Learn about notary pools, what they do, and how to use them to manage notaries public. - [Jurisdiction](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/jurisdiction.md): Learn about jurisdictions and what they mean for the remote notary process. - [Journaling](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/journaling.md): Learn about how the Notary API supports notary journaling. - [Notary recipients](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/concepts/notary-recipients.md): Learn about how the Notary API implements notaries as recipients and how they work. - [Notary On-Demand](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/notary-on-demand.md): The Notary On-Demand feature enables your eSignature API integration to send your recipients a link to a third-party online notary service for the signature and notarization of eSignature envelopes. - [Notary feature comparison](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/notary-feature-comparison.md): See how the Docusign Notary, Notary On-Demand, and eNotary products differ, and when you would use each. - [Authentication](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/auth.md): Learn how to authenticate with the Notary API. - [API rules and resource limits](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/notary-api/notary101/rules-and-limits.md): Learn about the rules and resource limits that apply to Notary API calls.