Before you get your documents notarized, you’ll want to make sure you’re properly prepared so that the process is smooth for both you and Notary Public. If you do not have all the necessary information ready, the Notary Public may be legally obligated to refuse the notarization. To prepare for your appointment, the National Notary Association recommends you complete the following steps before going to get your documents notarized.
Know that your Notary Public cannot give you legal advice. Unless a Notary is a qualified attorney, he or she is unable to give legal advice to signers. This means that Notaries are restricted from: selecting the type of notarization you need on your behalf; completing any part of the document (with the exception of the notarial certificate wording); or giving you advice on the legal ramifications of a document.
Find out what type of notarization you need. Typically, there are three forms of notarizations: acknowledgments, jurats and copy certifications. As stated above, a Notary Public cannot give you legal advice, so you have to be able to tell the Notary what type of notarization you need. If you do not know, you can contact an attorney for assistance.
Do not bring incomplete documents. As previously stated, a Notary Public is prohibited by law from completing your documents. If your document is incomplete and/or has blank spaces, a Notary will not be able to notarize it.
Make sure all the right people are at the notarization. All signers must be physically present at the notarization. Notary Publics cannot notarize the signature of a person who is not there, even if that person is on the phone or video chat. However, signers may appear separately; it is not required that they be present simultaneously.
Be “Aware and Willing.” One of the roles of a Notary is to evaluate whether you are voluntarily signing and are mentally competent to sign the document. Before you visit a Notary, be sure to understand the contents of your document, and make sure you want to sign it.
Make sure your identification is valid. Another role of a Notary Public is to verify you are who you say you are. The most common way to do this is to check a government-issued form of identification. Acceptable forms of identification include driver’s licenses and passports. If you do not have a valid form of identification, you may be able to use “credible identifying witnesses,” which are people willing to swear to the Notary they know you. Contact a Notary for the requirements of this method.
Make sure the name on your ID matches the name on your document. If there is a difference between the name on your ID and the name on your document, the Notary may refuse notarization until you are able to show him or her an acceptable, alternative form of identification.
Know what you will be paying. The fees for notary service, which are usually set by state law, vary by state. If you do not know what the fee in your state is, you can check the website of your Secretary of State. While the notary fee is set by law, if you choose to work with a mobile Notary, there is typically an additional travel fee, which is set by the Notary Public and not regulated by the state.
Most PostalAnnex locations offer the services of a commissioned and insured Notary Public. Notary services are usually available during store business hours, and some locations offer mobile Notary services. If you need to get documents notarized, visit our Store Locator to find the PostalAnnex nearest you.
Sources: National Notary Association
