A method, program, and system for notarizing and verifying documents via a distributed computer network are provided by the present invention. The invention includes creating an electronic version of the document on a client computer in the network and inserting a pre-written acknowledgment template into said electronic document, wherein the acknowledgment template complies with local legal formalities for a certified party that has authority by law to verify and authenticate the signer of a document. The document is then encrypted and stored on a secure server in the computer network, wherein the stored electronic document may be retrieved by any client in the computer network. The signing party is then notified of the electronic document's identity and directed to the location of a certified notary within the signing party's geographic vicinity. The signing party visits the notary and retrieves the electronic document on the notary's client computer. The signing party then electronically signs the document using an electronic writing pad. The notary verifies the transaction and affixes his electronic signature to the document and also affixes an electronic image of his notary seal to the document and saves it on the server. Any certified notary in the network may then retrieve the signed, notarized document.