Preparing for your mobile notary appointment helps ensure a smooth, efficient signing. Before your appointment, gather a valid government-issued photo ID for all signers and complete all required sections on your paperwork—leaving the signature lines blank until your notary arrives.

Please ensure you have a quiet, well-lit space available for the appointment and confirm all time and location details with your notary in advance. Carefully reviewing your documents beforehand and having any specific party instructions ready will help make your appointment as seamless as possible.

1. Fill in the blanks

   • Please complete all fields on your document before the notary arrives, leaving only the signature and notary section blank. If your document lacks the required notary wording, a separate certificate form (Jurat vs. Acknowledgment) will need to be selected and attached.

2. Wait to sign

   • Please do not sign your documents until you are in the presence of your notary.

3. Clarify any questions in advance

   • If you have questions about how to complete your documents, please contact the person who drafted or requested them. As a notary public, I am not permitted to give legal advice or assist in completing your documents.

4. Have your Identification handy

   • To have a document notarized, you must appear in person and present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID (such as a Driver's License, Passport, or Military ID).

5. What if a signer doesn't have a valid ID?

   • If a signer cannot obtain or present an ID (for example, an elderly resident in a care facility), they may still be identified using Credible Witnesses.

     In this situation, two credible witnesses must be present who:

     1. Personally know the signer

     2. Hold a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID

     3. Have no financial or legal interest in the documents being signed

   If you need to use credible witnesses for your appointment, please let us know in advance so we can prepare accordingly.

6. Copy Certifications

   • For copy certifications, the original document must be present (notaries cannot certify a copy of a copy).

     Please note: We cannot certify copies of vital records or publicly recordable documents (such as birth, death, or marriage certificates, court decrees, or deeds). Certified copies of these records must be obtained directly from the government agency or county clerk holding the official record.

7. Foreign language documents & communication

   • We are happy to notarize foreign-language documents, provided two key requirements are met:

     • Direct Communication Required: The notary and the signer must be able to communicate directly with each other in a shared language. Per state guidelines, third-party translators or interpreters cannot be used.

     • English Notary Certificate: While the main text of your document can be in a foreign language, the notary block (the jurat or acknowledgment certificate) must be in English.

Before Your Appointment