A notary public is a special person who helps make sure important papers are real and true. They check the person signing the paper is really who they say they are, and they watch the person sign the paper to make sure it's really them. Notaries can also make sure copies of important papers are real and true. They keep a record of all the papers they check, too. Basically, notaries help make sure important papers are real and the people who sign them are really who they say they are.