Please bring the complete document to be notarized and acceptable identification for each signer. All required signers must personally appear before the notary. If your document requires witnesses in addition to the notary, confirm those requirements before the appointment.

California law permits several forms of identification, including:

• California driver’s license or identification card

• U.S. passport

• Certain out-of-state driver’s licenses or identification cards

• Qualifying foreign passports or consular identification

• U.S. military identification

• Certain other government-issued identification

Identification generally must be current or have been issued within the previous five years and meet California’s requirements.

It depends on the type of notarization:

• A signature being acknowledged may be signed before the appointment, provided the signer personally appears and acknowledges signing it.

• A document requiring a jurat must be signed in the notary’s presence after the oath or affirmation is administered.

Yes. A California notary may not notarize a document that is clearly incomplete. Please complete all required portions of the document before your appointment, leaving only the notarial certificate for the notary to complete.

• • If the required notarial act is already known but the document does not include the appropriate certificate wording, I can provide and complete a separate California-compliant acknowledgment or jurat certificate and attach it to the document.

A notary serves as an impartial witness for any document that requires a recorded signature.

A notary verifies the identity of the signer and performs the notarial act required for the document, such as taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath or affirmation for a jurat. A notarization does not verify that the contents of the document are truthful, accurate, or legally valid.

I can perform notarial acts for many types of documents, including powers of attorney, affidavits, real estate and loan documents, trusts, wills, and other documents requiring an acknowledgment or jurat.

The document or receiving party must specify the notarial act required, as I cannot choose the notarial act for you.

Yes. A signature on a Power of Attorney may be notarized when all California requirements are met.

California notaries are also authorized to certify copies of Powers of Attorney under Probate Code section 4307.

Many of these documents may contain signatures that require notarization.

I can perform the appropriate notarial act when the document or receiving party specifies what is required and all California requirements are met.

I cannot advise whether notarization is legally necessary or determine which notarial act should be used.

California notaries have limited authority to certify copies.

A notary may directly certify a copy of a Power of Attorney as permitted by law, but many other documents cannot simply be certified as true copies by a California notary.

Certified copies of vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must be obtained from the appropriate government agency.

I can notarize a document if notarization is required, but I do not issue apostilles. Apostilles for California documents are issued by the California Secretary of State. If needed, I can help make sure the notarization portion is completed properly before you submit the document for apostille processing.

California notarial fees are generally up to $15 per notarized signature for acknowledgments and jurats. Mobile travel and service fees are separate, and your complete quote will be provided before the appointment.

Yes. Mobile appointments include a travel and service fee starting at $25.

The final amount depends on the location, travel time, and appointment circumstances and will be quoted in advance.

Yes, when scheduling permits. Contact me as early as possible with your location, preferred time, and appointment details so I can confirm availability.

Yes. I provide mobile notary service at homes, hospitals, nursing facilities, businesses, offices, and other agreed-upon meeting locations.

Yes. Multiple signers and documents can usually be handled during the same appointment.

Each signer must personally appear and meet the identification and other requirements for their notarization.

I accept cash, check, Zelle, and major credit cards.

No. A California notary who is not an attorney cannot give legal advice, interpret legal documents, or prepare or select legal documents for you.

If you need legal guidance, you should consult an attorney.

No. I can explain the difference between common notarial acts, but I cannot choose one for you.

If your document does not specify the required act, contact the document preparer, receiving agency, or an attorney for instructions.

No. California notaries may not notarize a document that is known to be incomplete or is clearly incomplete on its face.

Please complete the document before your appointment, leaving the notarial certificate for the notary to complete.

I must be able to communicate directly with the signer well enough to complete the required notarial act.

California’s handbook advises that an interpreter should not be used; if I cannot communicate with the signer, the signer should be referred to a notary who speaks their language. 

Yes. A notarization cannot proceed if the legal requirements for the requested act are not met.

For example, if the document is clearly incomplete, the signer does not personally appear when required, satisfactory identification cannot be established, or I cannot truthfully complete the notarial certificate.