Who can serve as an authorized officer for legal documents?

The role of an authorized officer for legal documents is often fulfilled by a notary public. A notary is a public official who is authorized to witness the signing of documents, administer oaths, and certify the authenticity of signatures, among other responsibilities. This function is crucial in ensuring that legal documents carry the necessary authenticity and can be officially recognized in a court of law.

Notaries are trained to follow specific legal procedures that validate the identities of the individuals signing documents and ensure that they are doing so willingly and without coercion. This added layer of verification is what makes a notary an essential figure in real estate transactions and various legal processes.

While other professionals such as real estate agents, appraisers, and title examiners have important roles in the real estate industry, they are not legally recognized as authorized officers for the execution or certification of documents. Their functions are more focused on different aspects of real estate transactions rather than the legal validation of documents. Therefore, in the context of who can serve as an authorized officer, a notary stands out as the correct answer.