Frequently Asked Questions

A Notary Public acts as an impartial witness to the signing of documents. Their primary duty is to verify the signer's identity, ensure the signer appears to be willing and aware of the document's contents, and then witness the signature. They do not verify the content or legality of the document itself. 

 An Acknowledgment verifies that the signer willingly signed the document. 

A Jurat requires the signer to take an oath or affirmation (swear) that the statements in the document are true, and the signature must be witnessed by the Notary. 

 You must bring three items: 

1. The complete, unsigned document(s) (Do not sign them beforehand). 

2. A valid, unexpired, government-issued Photo ID for every signer. 

3. The payment for the notarial services and travel fee. 

No, a Notary Public generally cannot offer legal advice or prepare legal documents unless they are also a licensed attorney.

The core function of a Notary Public is to serve as an impartial witness to deter fraud. Their duties primarily involve:

• Verifying the identity of the person signing a document.
  
• Ensuring the signer is acting willingly and is aware of what they are signing.
  
• Administering oaths and affirmations.
  
• Completing the notarial certificate.
  

Offering legal advice, selecting the appropriate document, or explaining the legal effect of a document is considered the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL), which is illegal for a non-attorney notary and can result in severe penalties, including fines or loss of their commission.

If you have questions about a document's content, its legality, or need assistance in drafting one, you should consult a licensed attorney.

A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID is required for notarization. However, if you are temporarily without your primary ID, there are two potential options available in most states:

You may use one or two "Credible Witnesses" who can swear to your identity.

• Who is a Witness? They must be an adult who personally knows you and has their own current, acceptable photo ID (like a driver's license or passport).
• Key Rule: The witness cannot be named in or benefit financially from the document being signed.
• Action: You must inform us beforehand if you plan to use a witness so we can verify the specific state requirements.

You may have another form of acceptable identification. The ID must be current, government-issued, and contain a photo, physical description, and signature.

Commonly accepted alternatives include:

• U.S. Passport or Passport Card
• U.S. Military Identification Card
• Current Foreign Passport
• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

We are legally unable to use or accept the following to verify identity:

• Expired IDs (with rare exceptions depending on state law).
• Social Security Cards or Birth Certificates.
• Credit cards or membership cards.
• Photos or photocopies of IDs.

🔑 Next Step: If you don't have a valid ID, please contact us immediately so we can determine the best legal option for your appointment.

No. Notaries are generally prohibited from certifying copies of vital records (like birth, death, or marriage certificates) or certain publicly recordable documents. Certified copies of these must be obtained directly from the issuing government agency. 

Our fee has two components: 

1. The Notarial Fee (a state-mandated maximum fee per signature/act). 

2. The Travel/Convenience Fee (a fee we set for our time, fuel, and mileage to travel to your requested location). These fees are agreed upon upfront. 

We accept the following forms of payment: Cash, Credit/Debit Cards, and Zelle. 

We do not accept personal checks.