The difference between a real estate closing and any other legal transaction is the magnitude of each party's obligations and the complexity of each legal protection.

A closing must manage documentation about the property, its title, and the mortgage lender financing the sale. A title notary ensures documents are signed and notarised to expedite the transfer of a home. If a promissory note has errors, it may be deemed void, and the deed transfer may be delayed. The seller is obligated to disclose the property's condition and encumbrances, and the various requirements of the mortgage must be explained to the buyer, who must swear to have viewed and understood this information. It is prudent to have a notary public witness even those documents that do not expressly require notarization, as a notary is an objective witness as an outside party to these transactions.