Preparing for notary services

Form of ID

Be prepared to show the notary valid identification such as a driver license, identification card, passport, and etc. 

Paperwork

Ensure the forms to be notarized are completed at its entirety. The signature portion will need to be done in front of the notary. The notary does not fill out any paperwork nor can give legal advice.

Time

 Please be on time, late appointments past 10 minutes from the scheduled appointment will result in additional charges or cancellation of the notary services. Refer to the fees schedule. 

Document disqualifications

 

This occurs when the document doesn’t meet certain requirements. Situations may include: 

  • The document contains blank spaces or missing pages 
  • The document does not contain a notarial certificate, and the signer cannot or will not instruct the Notary which type of notarial certificate is required
  • Certify a copy of a vital record, such as a birth certificate, which a notary is not permitted to do

Infromation from the NNA, www.nationalnotary.org

Other disqualifications

 

  • The notary knows or suspects the transaction is false, illegal or deceptive
  • The act being requested is not an authorized notarial act
  • The signer is unable or unwilling to pay the required fee
  • The request is made outside of the notary regular office hours
  • The request violates the notary's workplace guidelines

Information from the NNA, www.nationalnotary.org

Signor disqualifications

When the signer does not meet certain qualifications for the notarization. These may include:

  • The signer is not physically present
  • The signer cannot be properly identified
  • The signer does not speak the same language as the Notary
  • The signer is unwilling to swear or affirm the contents of the document for notarizations that require an oath or affirmation
  • The notary has reason to believe the signer appears to be confused, disoriented, or lacks the mental capacity to sign documents
  • ​The notary has reason to believe that the signer is being coerced to sign, rather than signing of his or her own free will

Information provided by the NNA, www.nationalnotary.org