How to find hospital notary services for medical documents

Why you might need a hospital notary in Houston, Texas

Life happens, and sometimes that means you’re unprepared for the legal documents required when your absence affects everyday life. Long-term recovery or terminal hospitalization might require urgent notarization to protect your final wishes and/or designate others to act on your behalf financially or medically in the event you cannot.

We understand that your unique circumstances might leave you feeling unsure of what to do next, but we can help with a prompt and friendly mobile notary expert right in the convenience of your hospital room or bedside.

We provide notary services at the following facilities:

• Houston Methodist Hospital

• Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital

• St. Joseph Medical Center

• Houston Methodist West Hospital

• West Houston Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

• West Oaks Nursing Home

• SilverCrest Assisted Living and Memory Care

• Copperfield Healthcare and Rehabilitation

• North Houston Transitional Care

• and many more... please call or text to 515-238-6201 to request for other locations.

Note: Remember that notary professionals cannot provide legal services, draft documents, or give any legal advice. It is best to seek out a qualified attorney to answer any legal questions prior to your notary appointment.

What you will need to notarize a document

To prepare for document notarization, there are a few important things that you need to have on-hand.

1. First, you need the document itself, as the notary needs to review and verify the notarial certificate before proceeding with the notarization process.

2. Second, you need a government-issued photo ID so the notary can verify your identity, such as a valid driver's license or passport.

On the day of your notary appointment, bring the document and your ID with you. The notary will review the document to ensure that the notarial certificate is complete and correct, then they will ask you to confirm that the contents are accurate. Afterwards, the notary will ask you to sign the document in front of them. Simple.

Basic notary requirements

A notary requires at least the following:

1. The physical document you want to sign and have notarized

2. A government-issued photo ID, such as valid driver’s license or passport

3. All witnesses present [as needed] with a government-issued photo ID present.

Special considerations for hospital notarizations

A notar public considers the following special circumstances in their notarial process for hospitalized patients:

• Are they able to appear in person?

• Are they competent and willing to sign?

• Can they sign their name without assistance?

• Are they under duress or pressure from another party to sign?

Completing the document notarization process

After the notary verifies all requirements, they will then affix their official seal or stamp onto the document, which includes their signature, date, and any other required information such as the location and time.

Documents commonly notarized

The most commonly notarized documents for hospitalized patients might include but are not limited to:

• Affidavits: A sworn written statement made by a person voluntarily.

• Powers of Attorneys: Electing someone to act on an individual's behalf financially or medically while they are alive.

• Contracts: A legally-binding agreement between two or more parties.

• Wills: An individual’s wishes on how they want their assets distributed and guardianship handled after death.

• Trusts: A fiduciary agreement where an appointed trustee holds on to designated assets for beneficiary distribution before or after the individual's death.

• Living Wills and Healthcare Directives: An individual’s medical care wishes in the event they are unable to make decisions for themselves.

• Guardianships or Conservatorships: One or more people appointed to make decisions on an individual’s behalf due to age or disability or for their dependents.

• Grant Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, or a Transfer of Property Ownership: The transfer of property ownership from one person to another.