Attest

To affirm to be true or genuine; an official act establishing authenticity. In real estate, to attest means to officially witness and confirm the signing of a document, often by signing as a witness to verify that the person who signed did so voluntarily and is the correct individual. Attestation is commonly required for legal documents such as deeds, affidavits, and certain loan papers, and it helps strengthen the document’s validity by providing proof that the signature was properly executed. In many cases, attesting is done by one or more witnesses or by a notary public, depending on state law and the type of document involved.