Where Can I Get a Document Notarized?
Common places include your bank or credit union, which often notarize free for customers, shipping and office supply stores, some public libraries and courthouses, law offices, and mobile notaries who come to you. Many states also allow remote online notarization by video. Bring a valid government photo ID and the unsigned document, and do not sign until the notary watches you. A notary verifies identity, not the document's legality.
A notary public is a state-commissioned official who verifies the identity of people signing documents, witnesses signatures, and administers oaths (Cornell LII). Many legal documents, such as deeds, powers of attorney and affidavits, require notarization.
Where to find a notary
| Place | Notes |
|---|---|
| Banks and credit unions | Often free for customers; call ahead since not every branch has a notary on duty |
| Shipping and office supply stores | Usually charge a fee |
| Public libraries | Some offer free notary services |
| Courthouses and government offices | Some clerks notarize court-related documents |
| Law offices and real estate offices | May notarize for clients |
| Mobile notaries | Travel to you for an added fee |
| Remote online notaries | Notarize by live video in states that authorize it |
What to bring
- A current government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport
- The complete, unsigned document
- Any other signers, who must appear with their own ID
- Witnesses, if the document requires them; many notaries cannot also act as witnesses
What a notary does
- Verifies your identity
- Confirms you are signing willingly and appear to understand
- Watches you sign, or takes your acknowledgment that the signature is yours (Cornell LII)
- Records the act in a journal, where required
- Completes the notarial certificate with a seal
What a notary cannot do
- Give legal advice or explain the document, unless also a lawyer
- Notarize their own signature or documents where they have an interest
- Notarize without the signer present
- Certify copies of vital records like birth certificates in most states
Be careful with "notarios" who claim to offer legal services, especially in immigration matters. In the US, notaries are not lawyers.
Fees
States set maximum fees per notarial act; banks often waive them for customers.
Documents for use abroad
Documents used in other countries may need an apostille from your state's secretary of state after notarization. If you are abroad, US embassies and consulates provide notarial services by appointment.
For documents like wills, deeds and powers of attorney, consider having a lawyer review them before notarization. See also power of attorney.
Sources
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This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws differ by state and change over time; talk to a licensed attorney in your state about your situation.