Preparing for notarization
Know What Type of Notarization You Need
As the signer, you must tell me what type of notarization you need. Notaries can describe what the primary notarial acts are, but we cannot recommend one over another. Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, therefore, I am not authorized to provide legal advice.
Generally, notarizations come in three basic types:
Acknowledgments — The purpose of an acknowledgment is to declare that you have willingly signed a document.
Jurats — The purpose of a jurat is for you to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true.
Copy Certifications — The purpose of a certified copy is to have the Notary confirm that the copy is an exact match of the original. This is not allowed in all states.
Make Sure the Document is Complete
I must have all pages of the document, not just the signature page. If there is anything not filled in, I will ask you if it is meant to be left blank. If it is not, you will need to address the missing information, then initial the changes that were made before notarization can proceed.
Have Proper Identification
Acceptable forms of ID must be issued within past 5 years and include:
State-issued driver's license
State-issued identification card
U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State
U.S. military ID
State, county and local government IDs
Permanent resident card, or green card, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Foreign passport
Driver's license officially issued in Mexico or Canada
Digital driver's license
ID deemed acceptable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Inmate ID issued by the State Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons, if the inmate is in state or federal custody
Inmate ID issued by a county sheriff, if the inmate is in the custody of the county sheriff
Full list here
Ensure the Name on Your ID Matches the Name on Your Document
If you've recently changed your legal name due to marriage, divorce or other reasons, be sure that the ID you bring to the notarization matches your name as shown on the document.
If there's a significant discrepancy — for example, your married name appearing on the document is "Mary Smith-Williams" but your ID contains your maiden name of "Mary Smith" — then I will not be able to proceed with the notarization unless you can provide an alternate form of acceptable identification that matches the name on the document.
Have All Signers Present for the Notarization
All signers of the document must be physically present.
Be Aware and Willing to Sign
One of the basic duties of a notary is to screen document signers for willingness to sign and awareness of what is occurring. That means I will check that you are mentally aware and alert at the time of the notarization, and that you are signing the document voluntarily and not under duress.
Let’s work together.
Fill out the form below and I will be in touch within 48 hours to discuss scheduling. Feel free to contact me at NotaryELH@gmail.com or 448.488.2408 with any additional questions.