Do you need to see a notary public sometime soon? Are you going to get some critical documents notarized? Don’t be afraid, this is easy! However, there are a few things that you must know.
(1) The notary public is required by law to check your identification. Certain types of identification are generally acceptable such as current driver’s licenses, state issued identification cards, passports,etc. As a general rule, if an identification is a current government issued photo-ID with a physical description, signature, and serial number, it should be good for a notary public to use. Make sure that your signature on the identification matches the one that you use on the document.
(2) Your name on the document must match the name on the identification. However, if your name on the document is shorter than the name on the identification, that is fine. If your ID says John J Smith, and on the document, you are named as John Smith, you are okay. If the name on the document is longer than the name in the identification, the notary public can not legally notarize that longer name variation.
(3) Some states require the notary public to thumbprint you for Deeds affecting real property and Powers of Attorney. It is painless (when I do it).
(4) The notary can not legally choose the type of notarization for you to get. Please have your decisions of whether to get an Oath, Acknowledgment, Jurat, or something else worked out before you see your notary.
(5) Most states require the document signer to sign the notary’s journal as well as signing the document. The notary should also record your identification information in their journal.
(6) Jurats require the signer to swear under oath. Please be cooperative about raising your right hand when you swear under oath.
(7) Mobile notaries charge a travel fee, and can charge waiting fees if you keep them waiting. Please be on time and respect their time and fees. 123notary.com specializes in mobile notaries.
(8) If the signer doesn’t have acceptable identification, please consult an attorney. Please be aware that inmates in jail do not have identification on their person other than their wristbands which is completely unacceptable as notary identification.
Good luck, and find a great notary public on 123notary.com!!!
Tweets:
(1) Your name on the document must match your name on the identification when notarized.
(2) Acceptable notary identification must be government issued, photo, serial #, exp. date, etc.
You might also like:
Notary Public 101 – Identification
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19507
Signature Name Affidavit: Not a substitute for an ID
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=3823
When ID and documents have different names
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=230
What’s your sign?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19638
And, of course, you must meet with the notary in person. It is not permitted, even if you signed in advance; to send someone else with your ID. Notarization always requires the person whose signature is to be notarized to meet personally with the notary. Picture phone calls are not “face to face” for notarization.
Comment by Kenneth A Edelstein — February 17, 2013 @ 1:27 pm
The claim that the signature on the ID must match the signature on the document is wrong. For example, if the signature on the ID was made with an electronic signature capture pad and the signature on the document is with a real pen, they may look different. Or the signature on the document may be a variation of the signature on the ID, such as one saying William and the other saying Bill.
There is no rule that says “Your name on the document must match the name on the identification. However, if your name on the document is shorter than the name on the identification, that is fine. If your ID says John J Smith, and on the document, you are named as John Smith, you are okay. If the name on the document is longer than the name in the identification, the notary can not legally notarize that longer name variation.” This is a myth perpetuated by (a) certain brain-dead notary testing/training organization(s) and has been discussed on internet forums for years. No one has ever found any law or rule containing this so-called requirement.
The blog entry also neglects to mention that except in California, you don’t need any ID if the notary knows you well.
Comment by DL — February 17, 2013 @ 3:00 pm
Video presence is valid in at least one state, Virginia.
Comment by fuzzy1955 — March 9, 2013 @ 1:36 am
what if you can’t get something notarized because your ID has expired and you can’t get something notarized to get your birth certificate because you have no id that’s good. What do you do then?
Comment by Molly Goodyear — December 13, 2019 @ 12:52 am